The Philippines and Thailand are the first countries in Southeast Asia where the Airport Authority of Hong Kong (AAHK) chose to launch its global air tickets giveaway campaign, "World of Winners", this Friday, March 3, to restore 80 percent of its tourist arrivals by year-end and 100 percent by 2024.
Worldwide, the AAHK is giving away half a million free tickets to Hong Kong, to be distributed by three of its home airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong Express and Hong Kong Airlines.
In the Philippines alone, they are giving away 30,000 free tickets to residents, Cief Operating Officer Vivian Cheung told reporters on Wednesday, March 1, in a press briefing at Fairmont Hotel, Makati.
The tickets are all round-trip, economy class, with a validity period of 6 to 9 months. Those who get them will also receive special offers for hotel accommodation, shopping and entertainment in Hong Kong.
AAHK is giving a total if 135,000 tickets in Southeast Asia, afterwhich they are continuing the campaign in Northeast Asia, Mainland China and other markets.
The airport authority sponsored the half a million free tickets as part of its package of relief measures for Hong Kong's aviation industry during the pandemic.
Todate, the airport has gotten back 40 to 45 percent of its pre-pandemic capacity, according to Cheung.With the tickets giveaway campaign, they expect to double the current capacity, she added.
"Hong Kong has fully opened up and we are eager to welcome visitors from different parts of the world," according to the COO.

Right now, "Travelers to Hong Kong are no longer required to have received Covid 19 vaccination, or undergo testing or quarantine upon arrival. And from today, wearing a face mask is no longer mandatory."
The airport continues to modernize and will have a capacity for 120 million passengers and 10 million tonnes of cargo by 2035.