Hong Kong Is Giving Away , 500,000 Free Airline Tickets , to Boost Tourism.<br />CNN reports that the government of Hong Kong has <br />announced a plan to give away 500,000 free airline <br />tickets in an effort to revive the tourism industry.<br />On February 2, <br />the "Hello Hong Kong" <br />initiative was unveiled.<br />CNN reports that the program <br />has been in development <br />for the past two years. .<br />Tickets will be split among the city's three <br />airlines, HK Express, Hongkong Airlines and <br />the nation's flag carrier, Cathay Pacific.<br />Tickets will be split among the city's three <br />airlines, HK Express, Hongkong Airlines and <br />the nation's flag carrier, Cathay Pacific.<br />In total, the 500,000 tickets cost <br />the government about $254.8 million.<br />Beginning on March 1, travelers interested in visiting <br />Hong Kong can go to the World of Winners splash page <br />to enter their names in the flight ticket lottery.<br />CNN reports that Hong Kong's pandemic <br />response was slow and cautious, with in-person <br />events being canceled as early as January 2020. .<br />Amid the pandemic, traveling to and from Hong Kong <br />was challenging and expensive in addition to strict quarantines <br />and testing requirements that were implemented.<br />Amid the pandemic, traveling to and from Hong Kong <br />was challenging and expensive in addition to strict quarantines <br />and testing requirements that were implemented.<br />CNN reports that Hong Kong <br />would see 56 million visitors in <br />a typical year prior to the pandemic. .<br />In 2022, the number of Hong Kong <br />tourists dropped to just about 100,000.
