Letters | Hong Kong must not mix up ‘check-in’ and ‘in-depth’ tourism

Readers discuss the limits of social media-driven ‘check-in tourism’, the real reason some Hong Kong businesses don’t take digital payments, and breaking up the DSE exam into two

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Tourists take photos at the former Yau Ma Tei police station on May 2, as the spot trends on Xiaohongshu, the social media platform. Photo: Eugene Lee

Published: 11:30am, 15 Aug 2024

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I refer to your article, “Xiaohongshu’s impact on travel trends: how the Chinese app is reshaping Hong Kong tourism” (June 8).

Xiaohongshu, which literally means “little red book”, is a popular Instagram-like social media platform in mainland China that has made many photogenic spots in Hong Kong popular. This trend is reshaping tourism, as travellers’ focus shifts from retail to experience. However, while mainland tourist numbers are recovering, overcrowding and other issues should not be ignored.

I am concerned the trend of “check-in tourism” – considering a place visited if a photo is taken and posted online – could cause overcrowding in different districts. On Xiaohongshu, many photo spots are not traditional tourist attractions, but could be something as regular as a street sign. When many tourists go to these places to take photos, it might disturb locals.

Also, check-in tourism could compromise safety. In Barcelona, tourists have been banned from taking photos near the towering Sagrada Familia cathedral, after a dangerous trend of taking selfies from moving escalators went viral on TikTok. Besides, does Hong Kong want to become the next Barcelona, where protesters recently marched against overtourism?

Tourists can’t experience Hong Kong culture by taking selfies at police stations, anyway. Snapping social media-worthy pictures around Hong Kong is not comparable to in-depth tourism.