Filipino tourist arrivals in HK more than doubled from pre-pandemic levels

 

Secretary Sun, Congen Usudan, Secretary Chan and Senator Cayetano 
offer a toast to further diplomatic and trade ties

A total of 763,778 Filipino tourists came to Hong Kong last year, amounting to a staggering 3,529 times more than the 20,000 recorded in 2022.

That’s according to Consul General Germinia Aguilar-Usudan in a speech she gave at the Diplomatic Reception hosted by the Consulate at the Conrad on Wednesday, to mark the 126^th anniversary of Philippine Independence.

PINDUTIN DITO

Filipino tourists have been coming in droves that their number has already reached 114% more than in the days before the pandemic, she added.

Her disclosure prompted Financial Secretary Paul Chan – who was the evening’s special guest - to reply in jest, “Do come more often.”

TAWAG NA!

Congen Usudan also revealed a significant rise in the number of Hongkongers visiting the Philippines. From a mere 837 Hong Kong tourists who visited the country in 2022, the number spiked to 80,512 last year, or a rise of 8,589 percent.

She added that the mutually beneficial ties between the Philippines and Hong Kong go a long way back.

“Philippine-Hong Kong relations are rooted both in the past and the present – rooted in our mutual goal of progress and success, and rooted in the friendly relations of our people,” she said.

Chan invites more Filipinos to visit Hong Kong

In turn, Secretary Chan said there is still a lot more that can be done to strengthen the ties between the two places.

“We see a vast room for economic and trade cooperation to grow further,” he said. “After all, the Philippines is among Asia’s top performing economies.

He went on to cite the Asian Development Bank’s forecast that the Philippine economy will grow by 6% this year and 6.2% by next year.

He ended his speech by giving thanks to the 220,000-strong Filipino community in Hong Kong, who he said have played a valuable contribution to the city’s vitality.

Another guest at the event, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, likened the relationship between the Philippines and China, and Hong Kong in particular, to that shared by siblings, which he described as “resilient.”

While the two sides have faced issues and problems, he said “we have always found a way to become brothers and sisters (again).”

Mayor Cayetano and DG Wei join the ceremonial cake-cutting

Their speeches were followed by a toast to furthering ties and celebrating Philippine independence, then a symbolic cutting of a bespoke cake, where the three were joined by Secretary for Labour and Manpower Chris Sun, Wei Wenxiu, Director General of the Consular Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in Hong Kong, and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano.

Consuls general of various countries, heads of non-government organizations, business and professional leaders of Hong Kong, also joined the 200 or so Filipinos who were invited to the event.

Hach. 

Pindutin dito para sa iha pang mga detalye

Call us!