Key facts
- Scheme allows eligible private yachts to navigate between the Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong waters.
- Five designated anchorages are available: Stanley Bay, Tai Tam Bay, Repulse Bay, Three Fathoms Cove, and Tai O.
- Over 1,100 new recreational berths are under development.
- Visiting yachts must provide 24-hour advance notification and maintain operational AIS and VHF radio.
- Skippers must hold local water navigation certificates verified through seven recognized maritime academies.
Hong Kong has launched the Southbound Yacht Travel Scheme on Friday, October 16, 2026, aiming to capture a portion of the global yacht industry, which is projected to reach HK$350 billion (US$44.6 billion) within six years. The scheme, formalized on September 28, 2026, allows eligible private yachts from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to navigate directly to designated anchorages in Hong Kong waters. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to develop the city's yacht economy, building on the Northbound Yacht Travel Scheme introduced in June 2026. The government has implemented digital clearance processes and is expanding infrastructure, including over 1,100 new recreational berths. Five anchorages have been designated: Stanley Bay, Tai Tam Bay, Repulse Bay, Three Fathoms Cove, and Tai O. To ensure safety and manage traffic, a dynamic monitoring platform tracks vessels, requiring participants to have operational Automatic Identification System (AIS) and marine VHF radio. Around 300 mainland skippers have completed training specific to Hong Kong's waterways.