In saying this, Hong Kong Retail Management Association chairwoman Annie Tse Yau On-yee pointed out yesterday the truncated quarantines are a "good start" but can't boost the sector, as people are reserving buying power for when they are overseas.

Hong Kong said Monday its seven-day hotel quarantines for new arrivals will be shortened to three days, followed by four days of "home medical surveillance."

"Hongkongers don't want to spend money here, they want to travel," Tse said.

Tse also said Sunday's consumption voucher disbursement had sparked a minor boost in consumer sentiment, but remained wary as people received only HK$2,000, unlike April's first payout of HK$5,000.

Speaking Tuesday ahead of the travel expo, Travel Industry Council executive director Fanny Yeung Shuk-fan said the only way to revive tourism in the long run is to lift all quarantine measures.

She also called for an industry bailout, saying it would still be "under enormous financial stress" on many fronts, including office rentals, bus maintenance and operation, even if the mainland border is reopened.

"I hope the government will be able to reopen the Employment Support Scheme and draw funds from the Anti-epidemic Fund to provide sustained financial support to the local tourism industry," she said.

Yeung also said local tourism will continue to struggle, as hundreds of agencies have either shut or drastically downsized their business.

WWPKG Holdings executive director Yuen Chun-ning said his travel agency has, since the quarantine cuts were announced, received over 100 inquiries, mostly for tours to Japan and Thailand.

Expedia's outbound flight search traffic has seen a 290 percent increase in the 24 hours in wake of the quarantine cuts, with top destinations including Bangkok, Osaka, Seoul, Phuket and Singapore.