Post-pandemic inbound tourism has fully rebounded, and cities across China’s Greater Bay Area are once again seeing a long-absent surge of visitors. This time, however, Hong Kong is no longer the frontrunner.
Data shows that Southeast Asia has become the largest source of inbound travelers to the Pearl River Delta, underscoring how geographic proximity and close regional economic ties continue to shape travel flows.
A notable trend emerges in flight choices: foreign carriers — particularly airlines from the Gulf region — are transporting the majority of inbound passengers.
This suggests that international airlines hold clear competitive advantages in their long-haul networks, brand strength, or transit convenience.
Cabin preferences also reveal a remarkably consistent pattern of pragmatism.
Economy class overwhelmingly dominates, indicating that inbound travelers are primarily business and leisure independent travelers who are price-sensitive and focused on value for money.
The data points to a symbolic turning point: Guangzhou and Shenzhen are rapidly expanding their share as entry gateways, and have now overtaken Hong Kong.
This shift marks a reshaping of the Greater Bay Area’s internal transportation landscape.
With the continued expansion of international routes at the Guangzhou and Shenzhen airports and improvements in border clearance efficiency, the two cities are now directly absorbing a massive volume of international passengers. The era in which Hong Kong stood as the region’s sole international aviation gateway has effectively come to an end.
