Trial booking system for Sai Kung geopark trail launches in bid to curb overtourism

Hong Kong has introduced a new booking system for visitors to the popular Po Pin Chau coastal trail in Sai Kung's High Island Geo Trail. The system aims to better manage crowds and protect the natural environment during peak travel seasons, particularly the upcoming National Day Golden Week holiday and Mid-Autumn Festival. Po Pin Chau, located in the south-eastern section of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark, will require advance reservations for all weekend visits starting next month until October 7.

The booking quota is set at 500 people per two-hour time slot for each weekend. Registration is mandatory via the local online travel booking platform Klook, using real names, to prevent scalping and no-shows. Visitors must present an e-voucher with a QR code to AFCD officers at the entrance of the Po Pin Chau section. Overcrowding on popular nature spots, especially during peak travel seasons, has been a growing concern, leading environmental groups to warn of damage to ecological systems.

Authorities first proposed the real-name reservation system in June to improve visitor flow management at Po Pin Chau, as stopping people from entering when visitor numbers reached capacity was deemed ineffective in promoting eco-tourism.