Hong Kong trams might further lose their competitiveness with a proposed fare hike and the operator should open up new revenue streams by stepping up promotion on mainland Chinese social media platforms such as RedNote to draw more tourists, a lawmaker has said.
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The Hong Kong Tramway Workers Union on Thursday also said the trams had lost a significant number of passengers under the government’s HK$2 (US 26 cents) fare scheme for elderly residents and that the proposed increment was needed to keep its operations afloat.
Under a proposal submitted to transport authorities by Hong Kong Tramways earlier this week, adult fares would be increased from the current HK$3.
Concessionary fares for children aged between three and 11 will rise from HK$1.50 to HK$1.60, an increase of 6.7 per cent, and for elderly residents above 65 from HK$1.30 to HK$1.50, up 15.4 per cent.
Lawmaker Chan Hok-fung of Hong Kong Island West constituency, warned that the fare hike, if approved, could ultimately hurt the operator’s bottom line as it would potentially drive away more passengers.
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He noted that many tourists visited the tram station in Kennedy Town, which proved its attractiveness, but the company had not effectively promoted itself on RedNote, a Chinese social media platform that has gained global popularity.
“I suggest that the trams could do more to attract tourists,” he said, such as by launching more souvenirs for sale.