Shortly after Singapore newly-minted transport minister Ong Ye Kung announced the kickoff date for the travel bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong, Singaporeans went crazy.
Within hours, the tickets for Air Travel Bubble (ATB) flights to Hong Kong were snapped up and prices ballooned from the usual price of $400 to over a thousand dollars.
But does this mean everything in Hong Kong will become more expensive, including hotel stay?
The answer might not be what you’ve expected.
Here’s what Zaobao managed to find out recently.
Unlike Air Tickets, Prices for Hotels in HK Has Not Increased Due To Travel Bubble
When the announcement happened, the prices for air tickets to Hong Kong shot up like Apple’s share prices when they first created the iPhone.
Conversely, it was found that prices for hotel stays in Hong Kong haven’t increased.
In fact, it was lower compared to pre-Covid-19 levels.
According to the Chinese newspaper, a 5-star hotel stay that used to cost $300 per night before the Covid-19 pandemic now costs just over $200 a night now.
In fact, compared to pre-Covid-19 days where you can rarely find hotels offering prices below a hundred dollars a night in Hong Kong, you can find more of such prices in the city now.
One factor behind this phenomenon could be the fact that unlike air tickets (which is limited), there are numerous hotels operating in Hong Kong.
More than enough for the daily quota of 200 travellers.
So if supply outweighs demand by such a crazy level, chances are, the prices of hotel stays wouldn’t be affected too much.
It’s Still Going To Be Expensive, Though
If you’ve read our article on the requirements to travel to Hong Kong, you’ll know that to travel out of Singapore now via the travel bubble means you need to have deep pockets.
Other than air ticket prices which have increased to over two times its usual rate, you’ll also need to take the polymerase chain reaction test (PCR) a total of three times.
One before you leave for Hong Kong ($200), once the moment you touched down in Hong Kong ($87) and once before you leave Hong Kong ($42-347).
This means that at the minimum, you’ll need to fork out $329 just for tests alone.
As of the time of writing, seats for ATB flights are selling fast for the period between 22 Nov and 6 Dec 2020.
The air ticket situation might settle down after 6 Dec though, given that Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines can operate more flights after the date if everything goes smoothly.
Meanwhile, the Taiwanese media reported that Taiwan might be another destination Singapore is hoping to set up a travel bubble with.
You can read more here.
Featured Image: Daniel Fung / Shutterstock.com
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