Recently, a post titled "Don't Go to Hong Kong to Play" has sparked heated discussions on online forums in Taiwan.
This is not just a simple bad review, but more like a mirror, reflecting the many problems of Hong Kong's tourism industry.
This is not only because it documents the unpleasantness of a pair of Taiwanese tourists in Hong Kong, but also because it touches the tip of the iceberg that lies deep under the city's tourism industry.
From facing "ubiquitous discrimination", to "over-poor service and service charges" in restaurants, to "over-quality hotels", these vivid narratives all reflect the deep-seated problems of Hong Kong's tourism industry.
What's even more acute is that when this netizen and his other half decided to move to Shenzhen, they encountered completely different treatment:
"It's so much better than Hong Kong... And the price is a third of Hong Kong, the service is super good!!"
This stark contrast is not only a reflection of the cultural differences between the two places, but also a silent irony that points to the weakness of Hong Kong's tourism industry.
Below the post, Taiwanese netizens' responses were full of disappointment and criticism of the Hong Kong travel experience.
"Hong Kong people hate it", "Hong Kong people's service is terrible", "I will not go to Hong Kong a second time after I have been to Hong Kong once".
Although these comments are emotional, they also reflect that the image of Hong Kong's tourism industry in the minds of some tourists has been greatly reduced.
In the replies of Hong Kong netizens, "tourism cemetery" and "Hong Kong is dead and not a slogan", they reveal a kind of helplessness and self-deprecation, as if they are both disappointed with the current situation and lack of motivation to change.
A Hong Kong netizen mentioned that the shortage of manpower in the service industry has led to a decline in service quality, and this vicious circle is a dilemma that is difficult for Hong Kong's tourism industry to break.
However, from these discussions, it is not difficult to find that the root cause of the problem is not only the service attitude or manpower shortage, but also the current environment and atmosphere in Hong Kong society.
In this context, it is not difficult to find that this post and the comments under it are actually a collective "condemnation" of Hong Kong's tourism industry.
Although every place will have its shortcomings, when words such as "bad service attitude", "discrimination against tourists" and "high consumption and low experience" frequently appear, it has to be said that Hong Kong's tourism industry is really "digging its own grave".
Moreover, with the rapid development of Shenzhen and other surrounding cities, Hong Kong's tourism industry is facing great pressure.
Shenzhen has not only made remarkable achievements in scientific and technological development, but also has shown strong competitiveness in the service industry.
High-quality service, affordable prices, and a wide variety of cuisines are all important factors that attract tourists in Shenzhen.
On the other hand, if Hong Kong fails to adjust its strategy and improve the quality of its services in a timely manner, the future of the tourism industry is indeed worrying.
However, in the face of criticism and dissatisfaction, the simplest and most stupid thing to do is to choose to turn a blind eye, which is not only a matter of attitude towards tourism, but also a microcosm of social attitudes.
If Hong Kong's tourism industry fails to reflect on itself and take concrete actions to improve service quality, its future path will only get narrower and narrower.
As a Taiwanese netizen said: "In another ten years, I will cry and beg you to go", which is not only a sarcasm, but also an early warning.
To sum up, the problems faced by Hong Kong's tourism industry cannot be solved overnight, and require the joint efforts of all sectors of society.
Hong Kong needs to regain its self-confidence and pride as an international metropolis, not only in terms of hardware, but also in terms of soft power, service attitude, and visitor experience.
Only in this way can Hong Kong become a place that people aspire to again.
Otherwise, the label of "Hong Kong = International IQ Tax Center" will not be a joke, but an indisputable fact.