Attendance at Hong Kong’s flagship Rugby Sevens could be dampened by the latest conflict in the Middle East, as softer hotel bookings hint at possible consequences from flight disruptions and rising travel costs.
The coming three-day tournament, running from Friday to Sunday and traditionally drawing tens of thousands of overseas visitors each year, coincides with airlines facing disrupted flight routes and sharply higher fuel costs due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Lawmaker Perry Yiu Pak-leung said the impact on attendance might be limited, noting that many fans usually secured their tickets and travel arrangements well in advance.
“Travel costs for customers have definitely gone up significantly; that is a fact,” he said.
“But whether they have risen to a level that would reduce the number of visitors, I cannot say for certain.”
He added that many Sevens packages were likely bought before the latest escalation.
