The Hong Kong and Macao special administrative region governments and tourism industry leaders on Sunday welcomed a new policy allowing private yachts from both SARs to enter or exit the nine mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with greater ease.

They described the move, rolled out on Saturday, as a "milestone" for solo yacht tourism and the yacht economy. The next phase is intended to open up the southern route for mainland yachts to the two SARs, streamline customs requirements and enable mutual recognition of credentials, making cross-border travel more convenient for high-end travelers.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, said on Saturday that the new policy, effective immediately, includes waiving a "guarantee" requirement previously imposed on Hong Kong and Macao yachts for temporary entry to and exit from the mainland, as well as eliminating "temporary ship nationality registration".

Under the new arrangements, yachts from Hong Kong and Macao can enter and exit the mainland through designated ports in the nine Greater Bay Area cities in Guangdong province — Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing — and are permitted to sail only within these cities.

The Transport and Logistics Bureau of Hong Kong and Macao's Marine and Water Bureau welcomed the measures, adding that the guarantee-free arrangement and removal of temporary registration requirements would significantly reduce the financial burden on yacht owners handling cross-border procedures, while maintaining their original vessel registration.

Previously, yacht owners from Hong Kong or Macao whose vessels entered mainland waters were required to place a mandatory deposit and apply for a license — the costs often reaching several hundred thousand yuan and potentially monthslong approval processes.

In his 2025 Policy Address, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu highlighted major initiatives aimed at developing the city's high-end yacht industry, including a solo travel system for yachts entering the mainland's Greater Bay Area, as well as measures to facilitate both Hong Kong yachts heading north and mainland yachts traveling in the opposite direction.

Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, called the latest policy a "full demonstration" of the central authorities' strong support for integrated tourism development in the Greater Bay Area and regional growth.

He said a yacht individual travel program is key to positioning the region as a global destination for high-spending travelers, and to developing Hong Kong into a hub for yacht leasing, trading and tourism.

Chui added that the industry should also encourage mainland yachts to enter Hong Kong, noting that attracting high-spending visitors is vital for the city's tourism expansion.

Legislator Priscilla Leung Mei-fun described the policy as a "milestone" in the development of the Greater Bay Area, noting its potential to stimulate marine recreation by leveraging complementary strengths — Hong Kong's marinas, maritime services and high-end tourism capabilities, alongside Guangdong's coastlines, islands and coastal leisure resources.

She said faster cross-border yacht movement is only the first step, and envisioned further innovation, including mutual recognition of yacht licenses and more efficient border inspection procedures.

Lo Wai-kwok, chairman of Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong, urged Hong Kong to work with other cities in the region to further simplify customs procedures for cruise vessels, yachts and passengers.

He said he plans to meet industry stakeholders to discuss how the new policy can translate into tangible growth for Hong Kong's yacht economy.

wanqing@chinadaily.com.cn