China's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) witnessed a surge in tourism during the five-day May Day holiday, with cross-border travel reaching record highs.
According to data from Zhuhai Border Inspection Station, on Friday, the second day of the holiday, major ports connecting Guangdong's Zhuhai City with Hong Kong and Macao saw a peak in cross-border travel, with 823,000 crossings, up 32 percent year on year and marking a new all-time high.
Li, a Macao resident, spent the holiday traveling with her child.
"During this May Day holiday, we are taking our daughter to Changsha for an educational trip, so she could see the beautiful landscapes of our country and learn more about our country's culture," Li told China Central Television reporters.
In response to the increased flow of tourists, young volunteers worked alongside officials from border control and transport departments of Zhuhai to ensure smooth and efficient passage for travelers.
In Hong Kong, the influx of visitors was similarly high. According to the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government, the city registered about 1.08 million tourist entries during the first two days of the May Day holiday, with 480,000 entries from the mainland, an increase of more than 30 percent compared with last year. The city expects to welcome around 800,000 mainland tourist visits throughout the holiday. To further enhance the visitor experience, the local tourism industry is continually improving its services while strengthening Hong Kong's distinct attractions.
"Hong Kong is known as the 'Pearl of the Orient'. We always want to visit the city. This holiday is the perfect time to come here with my children," said a mainland tourist surnamed Ou.
"I visited Victoria Harbor. After that, I came over here to see the Golden Bauhinia Square," said Zhao, another mainland traveler.
Meanwhile, Macao has also experienced a bustling holiday. According to the Public Security Police Force of the Macao SAR, over 2.39 million border crossings were recorded at Macao's ports in the first three days of the holiday, with Friday seeing a peak of over 837,000 crossings -- setting a new single-day record.
Popular tourist spots like the Ruins of St. Paul's, Senado Square, and Rua do Cunha were packed with visitors. In response, the Macao SAR government implemented crowd control measures during peak times and introduced designated pedestrian streets to improve visitor experience.
The SAR government has also continued to promote the "honest shop recognition program" to ensure consumer confidence.
"The locals in Macao have made us feel very welcomed with their friendly services and various thoughtful gestures. We've really felt the warmth of the people here, and it's very convenient to travel to Macao now," said tourists from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
"We have been to see the Macao Grand Prix Museum. [It's] good to see the cars on display. So yes, I still like Macao. It's nice to see it again," said Robert, a tourist from Australia.
Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao SAR Government Tourism Office, emphasized the importance of offering exceptional services, ensuring visitors feel welcomed and experience the city's diverse offerings.
"Of course, the most important thing now is to provide excellent services, so that our guests feel that Macao is a place worth visiting and with diverse offerings. We'll make them feel right at home," said the official.
China's Greater Bay Area sees booming tourism during May Day holiday
