Li (right) and her cousin Deng are among a new generation of ‘cost-conscious’ Chinese tourists who prefer to opt out of large tour groups. — Photos: Reuters
Cost-conscious Chinese tourists have replaced many of the cash-rich mainland travellers who once flocked to Hong Kong, with some only interested in free walking tours of the city and staying across the border in Shenzhen overnight to save money.
During China’s Labour Day holiday recently, Laura Li, 28, and her cousin Diego Deng, 20, from northeastern Liaoning province, were among the younger visitors to Hong Kong who preferred to follow walking guides on social media rather than join tour groups or shop in luxury stores.
