Local tourism keeps hopes alive for Hong Kong

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

The Dukling, which is a traditional Chinese junk boat frequently spotted around Hong Kong’s charming Victoria Harbour, has readjusted its tour routes for staying afloat in times of corona virus pandemic, and is now mainly catering to locals.

Built in 1955, the boat was once owned by a fisherman living on the vessel with his family. It was used for harbor tours since the 1980s, and the current operator is running the service since 2014.

Its 12 staff serves mainly foreign tourists who come to witness Hong Kong’s glitzy skyline from a different angle.

But with the border all but shut for non-residents for around 10 months now, Dukling Limited’s director of business development, Charlotte Li, said that foreign clients are almost non-existent.

“This disease has had a massive impact on the entire planet and Hong Kong is really dependent on trade and tourism,” said Li.

Visitor arrivals have declined 96-99% year-on-year for every month since February. During its best times, Hong Kong received almost 7 million visitors per month.

However, Li has preserved about a third of the business by offering tours in Cantonese rather than English, sailing to far-away Hong Kong locations for luring more local residents.

Time-honored Chinese junk boats were originally used for fishing and transportation. Tourism has prompted more such boats to float across Victoria harbour, but many are thought to be simply replicas.

“Every piece of wood and every bit of furniture here has its history,” Li said of the Dukling. “This boat really represents Hong Kong.”

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