Greater Bay Airlines will launch direct flights between Hong Kong and a lesser-known Japanese city, with tourism experts saying it may become a popular destination for residents who visit the country frequently and are getting bored with the traditional attractions.
The airline announced on Monday that the scheduled flights to Yonago in Tottori Prefecture would kick off on October 27, expanding its network in Japan to three destinations after Tokyo and Osaka.
The new service between Hong Kong and Yonago Kitaro Airport will run three times a week, with the airline saying it currently operated charter flights to meet the demand in the summer holiday.
Tourism industry representatives said they expected the demand for the new route to be high since Greater Bay Airlines would be the only local firm offering it.
Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, said Hongkongers who visited Japan frequently, were getting bored with some first-tier cities, such as Tokyo and Osaka, and would like to explore in-depth some sightseeing spots might gain an interest in the destination.
“Hongkongers can easily access Tottori Sand Dunes by the scheduled services, a national reserve near Yonago,” he said.
He said he believed Yongao could become a popular destination among Hongkongers, as tourists could also soak in hot springs and enjoy winter snowy sceneries there.
Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of EGL Tours, said it made sense for airlines to explore second-tier cities in Japan given the country’s popularity among residents.
He also said he believed Japanese authorities would welcome the new initiative.
“It is believed that Japanese authorities also hope second-tier cities can replicate the tourism development seen in first-tier cities,” he added.
Yonago is a major city in the western part of Tottori, renowned for its natural sceneries, including Mount Daisen and Tottori Sand Dune.
Mount Daisen is a large volcanic mountain that dominates western Tottori Prefecture’s terrain.
Tottori is also the hometown of legendary manga artist Shigeru Mizuki, who created the well-known character of one-eyed ghost boy Kitaro.
There is also a popular tourist spot “Mizuki Shigeru Road”, which features 170 bronze statues of manga characters.
About 1.3 million Hongkongers visited Japan in the first half of this year, a more than 40 per cent increase compared with the same time in 2023, according to official data.
The overall number of tourists from Hong Kong to Japan before the pandemic in 2019 was about 2,2 million.
The airline kicked off its scheduled services in July 2022 and currently operates flights to Bangkok, Taipei, Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka, Manila and Haikou with a fleet of eight Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
