Stacy Shi
Tokyo remains the most popular travel destination for “rich” Hongkongers, a bank survey has found, and they spend up to HK$870,000 on traveling overseas a year.
Standard Chartered Hong Kong surveyed 1,080 locals who have a monthly income of HK$80,000 or above or have at least HK$1 million in investment assets on their post-Covid traveling pattern.
The respondents plan an average of eight trips this year, up on the seven trips in 2019 and the 6.7 trips in 2023.
Regarding the destinations, Tokyo ranks first among Hong Kong travelers of all ages. It is followed by Singapore, Bangkok and Taiwan.
Over one-third prefer trips with their partner and children, but 31 percent also enjoy going solo.
The survey revealed that Hongkongers value preflight services, with 84 percent considering priority check-in and lounge access to be crucial for the overall travel experience.
Yvonne Lam, head of the bank’s affluent segment and strategic alliance consumer, said high-income Hongkongers are most willing to spend money on dining, followed by in-depth activities such as hot-air balloon rides and scuba diving.
Among them, high-net-worth individuals who have investable assets of at least HK$7.8 million highlighted the quality of travel, with their average travel expenses more than twice as much as other respondents.
”Their funds are primarily allocated to enhance travel experience, such as staying in luxury hotels or splashing on Michelin-starred dining experiences,” Lam said.
Hong Kong singer-songwriter Ivana Wong Yuen-chi, speaking at the opening ceremony of an immersive art attraction presented by Standard Chartered at K11 Musea in Tsim Sha Tsui yesterday, said she is fond of traveling, which can inspire her music production.
She also said she loves to visit art galleries and traveling to Japan, saying “it seems that my every social media post is from Japan.”
The Airport Authority, meanwhile, recorded 4.2 million people traveled through Hong Kong International Airport last month, almost twice the number in February last year.
The growth was mainly attributed by surging travelers from Southeast Asia, mainland and Taiwan during the Lunar New Year holiday from February 7 to 18.