Tourists Flock to Hong Kong Countryside Amid Golden Week Surge

Hong Kong's natural beauty is drawing crowds like never before, with the recent Golden Week holiday seeing an unprecedented influx of tourists into our cherished countryside. Over 600,000 visitors flocked to our ecological hotspots and country parks in just the first two days, a testament to the allure of Hong Kong beyond its urban landscape.

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ecological hotspots were crowded on Friday, the first day of the Labour Day holiday.

While the sheer volume of visitors is a positive sign for tourism, it also presents challenges. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has been working diligently to manage the crowds, implementing crowd control measures at popular sites like High Island Reservoir East Dam and various country park campsites. The sight of over a thousand camping tents in Sai Kung's remote beaches paints a vivid picture of the holiday's popularity.

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Over 1,000 camping tents were spotted in the three campsites at Ham Tin Wan, Sai Wan, and Long Ke Wan in Sai Kung East Country Park on Friday evening, the AFCD said, adding that good order and hygiene were maintained at the sites.

However, this surge in popularity has also brought renewed scrutiny. Environmental groups, like Greenpeace, have voiced concerns about the potential for overtourism and its impact on our fragile ecosystems. Reports of visitors collecting marine life, such as clams and sea urchins, from protected areas like Sharp Island are deeply troubling. While the AFCD has increased patrols and deployed drones, the effectiveness of advisory measures in deterring such behavior remains a question.

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the city recorded a total of 602,000 tourists through various checkpoints on Friday and Saturday, the first two days of Golden Week.

From a Hong Kong perspective, this situation is a double-edged sword. We are proud that our country parks and natural reserves are attracting so much attention, showcasing the incredible biodiversity and scenic beauty that our city offers. Yet, we must also grapple with the responsibility of preserving these precious environments for future generations. Unlike the bustling urban image often projected internationally, these scenes of crowded natural landscapes highlight a different facet of Hong Kong – one that is increasingly valued by both locals and visitors, but which requires careful stewardship. The challenge lies in balancing accessibility with conservation, ensuring that the Golden Week rush doesn't leave a lasting scar on our natural heritage.

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the AFCD’s new measures were advisory in nature and lacked deterrence.