The daily traffic flow for the Zhuhai Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge reached a milestone on Monday, as the number of vehicles crossing the boundary exceeded 16,000, setting a new record, China Media Group reported on Tuesday.
The surge in traffic was primarily due to the public holidays in Hong Kong and Macao. From Saturday to Monday, Zhuhai Port recorded 308,000 passenger trips with 45,500 vehicles inspected at the port.
Among the inspected vehicles, 29,000 – or 64 percent – were Hong Kong and Macao single-plate vehicles.
This surge reflects the deepening consumer integration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), as convenient customs clearance mechanisms have helped boost tourism in the area, said Jiang Yiyi, a deputy head of the School of Leisure Sports and Tourism at Beijing Sport University.
With the rapid development and increasing diversification of the tourism industry in the Chinese mainland, traveling north has attracted more and more tourists from the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions.
The targeted promotions in South China’s Guangdong Province have played a significant role in attracting more tourists from Hong Kong and Macao, added Jiang.
As the only entry port for northbound travel from the two regions, Zhuhai Port has seen rising numbers of Hong Kong and Macao single-plate vehicles passing through, resulting in a new record for the highest traffic flow for the 19th time this year.
As of Monday, the number of Hong Kong and Macao single-plate vehicles crossing the Zhuhai Port had reached 169,000 in December, up 12.6 percent from the previous month. The daily trips made through the port exceeded 6,700, accounting for 55.8 percent of the port’s daily traffic flow.
Hong Kong single-plate vehicles have contributed the most to the bridge’s rising traffic volume, with a monthly growth rate exceeding 24.8 percent and the highest daily traffic volume of 5,400 trips.
Driven by the northbound travel policies for Hong Kong and Macao, traffic flows at the Zhuhai Port have grown significantly. The boundary control point has inspected more than 15.8 million passengers so far this year, up 1.25 times from the same period in 2019, and more than 3.17 million vehicles, up 3.75 times.
To cope with the growing traffic, the boundary control station of the Zhuhai Port has implemented new measures. On Saturday, the port launched a mobile inspection mode and reduced the average peak-period waiting time by 20-30 percent.
The continuous growth in traffic at the Zhuhai Port highlights the success of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in promoting connectivity and facilitating tourism between the regions. It also demonstrates the increasing integration and cooperation within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
With the ongoing development of the tourism industry and favorable travel policies, more tourists are expected to visit the Chinese mainland from Hong Kong and Macao. The convenience provided by the bridge and the efforts made by local authorities will continue to drive tourism growth in the region.
The record-breaking traffic at the Zhuhai Port showcases the growing popularity and success of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge as a key transportation hub, connecting the Greater Bay Area and providing a gateway for travelers from Hong Kong and Macao.
As the bridge continues to play an essential role in promoting cultural and economic exchange between the regions, it is expected to attract more tourists and further strengthen the integration of the Greater Bay Area.
