Tour groups from Hong Kong to mainland China are expected to rise by up to 40 per cent year on year over the Labour Day weekend, with travel agents citing improved safety and hygiene as key factors attracting visitors.

The agents also said that slight increases in fuel surcharges for flights to Asian destinations were not the main driver of shifting outbound travel patterns among Hong Kong residents; instead, they pointed to the novelty and wide range of mainland options.

Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of EGL Tours, said travel over the Labour Day weekend from Friday to Sunday would be dominated by short trips within the Greater Bay Area, including Foshan, Dongguan and Zhongshan.

He said tour groups to the mainland rose by 30 to 40 per cent year on year, but added that interest in taking longer leave for trips to Southeast Asia remained weak, which he attributed to the Easter holidays last month, when many had already travelled.

“Airfares have risen slightly since the war [in the Middle East] broke out, but they are not too expensive. Mainland destinations feel new compared with places Hongkongers typically visit, such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, and have attracted more interest,” he said.

His agency offers trips of at least three days to mainland destinations farther from Hong Kong, reflecting a growing trend among travellers, as many can easily make shorter visits to nearby cities such as Shenzhen.

“There have been significant improvements in hygiene and safety [on the mainland], meeting customers’ needs. Improved accessibility and transport links, as well as the availability of value-for-money hotels, have also helped.”