Based on plane ticket booking statistics, Hong Kong is the top outbound destination for Chinese mainland travellers over the forthcoming five-day May Day holiday.

According to travel companies, a free flight ticket distribution initiative would help to fuel Hong Kong’s tourism boom even further.

The average price of a single-way cross-border plane ticket for the holiday had reached 2,497 yuan (US$363) as of Friday, up 67 percent over the same period last year, according to Shanghai-based online travel operator Trip.com over the weekend.

The search data of cross-border flights during the holiday soared nearly 40 percent from 2019, it added.

Since March, the Airport Authority Hong Kong has been delivering 500,000 free economy-class round-trip tickets in important markets throughout the world, and the big advertising campaign has arrived in Shanghai.

140,000 of the tickets will be handed to travellers on the Chinese mainland.

Beginning Monday, Cathay Pacific Airways will issue 110,000 complimentary round-trip economy-class plane tickets in two parts.

More than 80,000 of them involve departures from 14 Chinese mainland cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Wuhan, to Hong Kong.

25,000 of the 80,000 tickets will be allocated to Shanghai visitors.

Between April 17 and April 23, the airlines will open registration on their official website, and participants will simply need to register their name, email, and phone number, select a preferred departure city, and wait for the results of the lucky draw.

The second phase, which will take place between April 24 and 30, will comprise flights from Hong Kong to 26 abroad countries including the United States, Canada, France, and Germany.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board is also issuing one million consumption coupons, which cover entry to tourist attractions, shopping and dining locations, and tourist transportation.

Between Monday and April 20, Trip.com has partnered with Hong Kong Airlines on a “two for one” plane ticket promotion.

The remaining 20,000 complimentary tickets will be offered by HK Express to Chinese mainlanders via a lucky draw in August.

With rising Chinese mainlander travel demand to Hong Kong, Trip.com believes the campaign would increase travel willingness and hasten the recovery of Hong Kong’s tourism sector.