Hong Kong saw 97.7% fewer arrivals in October than in October 2019, despite recent relaxations to Covid-19 quarantine rules for inbound travelers.

According to Immigration Department statistics, Hong Kong saw 10.8 million arrivals in October 2019, but only 318,935 last month.

On Tuesday, Hong Kong’s John Lee said the city was “full of life” since the hotel quarantine requirement was axed, adding that overall arrival numbers rose 1.6 times in October compared to September.

Since September 26, arrivals no longer need to quarantine in a designated hotel. Instead, they undergo almost a dozen Covid-19 tests and three days of “medical surveillance,” during which they can leave home but will be restricted from entering premises such as bars and restaurants.