As the only port on the Chinese mainland that allows passengers to arrive at Hong Kong International Airport for international flights bypassing Hong Kong’s 14-day quarantine, Shekou Cruise Homeport saw a soaring passenger flow after the Spring Festival holiday, according to the Daily Sunshine.

At present, Shekou Cruise Homeport runs two ferries daily to Hong Kong International Airport.

At present, outbound international flights are limited on the Chinese mainland due to the control of the pandemic. Airfares are also very high.

“Passengers who go to the Hong Kong airport from Shekou Cruise Homeport don’t need to do 14-day quarantine. More economical flight options are available from the Hong Kong airport, which can help enterprises save money to resume production,” said Yang Yiqiong, deputy manager of Shekou Cruise Homeport.

Yang also suggested that many Chinese students studying overseas also take ferries to Hong Kong. As of now, the port has provided boarding service for over 13,000 passengers.

A number of those passengers are technicians who are working on Belt and Road projects, said the report.

In another development, many airline companies reduced domestic flight prices to boost sales as March usually marks an off-peak season in the tourism industry.

Spring Airlines now provides a series of cheap flights from Shenzhen to domestic cities, including Nanchang, with airfares starting from 200 yuan (US$34), Qionghai (from 220 yuan), Chongqing (from 230 yuan) and Nanjing (from 240 yuan), according to its official website.

(Wang Jingli)