China halts Hong Kong visas for tour groups
China has reportedly suspended visas for Chinese tour groups entering Hong Kong, according to Hong Kong’s travel trade body.
"I’m hearing this from a lot of travel agents in China that from today onwards they are not issuing any group permits for groups coming," said Joseph Tung, executive director of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong.
Tung said he has received no word that this is official government policy.
Tourist visas for individual Chinese travelers are still being processed but Tung said banning group travel would seriously impact the economy.
"A big portion of travel is from tour groups from mainland China," Tung said.
The vast majority of inbound visitors to Hong Kong come from the Chinese mainland.
In February the Hong Kong’s tourist board forecast 59 million visitors this year, of which 45 million are Chinese.
Thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators have been protesting on Hong Kong’s streets since the weekend demanding free and open elections.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
Suspension of all regional trains in Catalonia following two new rail accidents in Spain