Hong Kong-based airlines are to give away half a million free flights to overseas visitors to lure foreign tourists back to the city following COVID.

Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Express and Hong Kong Airlines will start issuing the tickets next month as part of the destination’s new ‘Hello Hong Kong’ promotion.

Tickets, provided by Hong Kong International Airport, will be issued in phases, starting with southeast Asia markets next month, mainland China in April and northeast Asia and the rest of the world in May.

The free seats will be issued via a variety of means, including buy-one-get-one-free promotions, first-come-first-served and a prize draw. You can find more details here.

More than a third of the tickets will be given to the travel trade and governments to promote tourism to Hong Kong, said Discover Hong Kong.

Also, thousands of Hong Kong hotels, bars, restaurants and tourist attractions will be giving away at least a million vouchers worth more than HK$100 each as part of the 2023 promotion launched today. A list of participating venues is available here.

Visitors staying up to 90 days in Hong Kong are eligible for the vouchers, which can be picked up from Hong Kong Tourism Board visitor centres in Hong Kong and Kowloon from 2 February to 31 December 2023.