Hong Kong authorities are stepping up crowd and environmental controls at nature sites ahead of the Lunar New Year break to prevent repeats of past overcrowding incidents, as the city prepares for 1.43 million mainland Chinese visitors. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui stated that the government is adopting a more proactive approach to managing visitor flows this year.
Hong Kong's government estimates that about 1.43 million visitors from across the border will enter the city during the mainland's Lunar New Year "golden week" break from February 15 to 23, marking a roughly 6 percent increase in average daily arrivals compared to last year. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said on Saturday that the government is taking a more proactive approach to managing visitor flows at nature sites this year, following repeated incidents of overcrowding and environmental damage during past peak travel periods.
"Ecotourism is about getting close to nature, but it should be in a comfortable and orderly environment," she told a radio show. "If certain sites become too crowded, we may need to introduce crowd control measures so people queue properly, because some of these places are very small."
Law noted that government departments are closely monitoring ecotourism hotspots such as Sai Kung, where beaches, campsites, and hiking trails have previously been overwhelmed by visitors unfamiliar with local regulations and conservation rules. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will enforce stricter measures to avoid repeats of chaos seen during events like National Day or the Lunar New Year Night Parade.
These steps aim to ensure visitors enjoy nature in an orderly manner while safeguarding Hong Kong's ecological resources.
