Hong Kong to Offer 500,000 Free Airline Tickets: How to Participate in the Lottery

The Hong Kong government has announced its intention to provide 500,000 free airline tickets as a part of measures to revive the city’s tourism industry and bring visitors back to the city. This was reported by CNN.

The "Hello Hong Kong" initiative was introduced to the public on February 2, but it has been in the works for over two years. The tickets will be distributed among three of the city’s airlines: Cathay Pacific, HK Express, and Hongkong Airlines. The total cost of the 500,000 tickets will amount to approximately $254.8 million.

Individuals wishing to travel to Hong Kong can visit the World of Winners page starting from March 1 and enter their names in the flight ticket lottery. The tickets will be provided in three phases: from March 1 for residents of Southeast Asia, from April 1 for residents of mainland China, and from May 1 for residents from around the world.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hong Kong exhibited considerable caution. Traveling to and from Hong Kong became a complex and costly process, with strict quarantine restrictions for travelers, including isolation of up to 21 days and multiple PCR tests required. Travelers had to spend their quarantine time in hotels, which were paid for by them.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Hong Kong welcomed 56 million visitors annually. By 2022, that number had plummeted to just 100,000.