HK sports sector generates HK$46b in 2024

Hong Kong's sports industry generated HK$46 billion in economic value in 2024, making up 1.5 percent of the city's total output, according to the Census and Statistics Department. The sector contributed HK$70 billion to the GDP, or 2.2 percent of the total market price. Employment in the industry stood at around 84,000, representing 2.3 percent of total jobs, a figure largely unchanged from 2023.

Sports facilities and clubs, including sports education, made up 35 percent of the industry's value added and employed 39,000 people, or 47 percent of the workforce. Manufacturing and trade of sports-related goods contributed 20 percent of value added and supported 16,000 jobs, accounting for 19 percent of total employment. Sports tourism, encompassing retail, accommodation, and food and beverage services for visitors, accounted for five percent of value added and provided 6,000 jobs, or seven percent of sector employment.

DAB lawmaker Vincent Cheng expressed optimism about the industry's growth, noting that the data did not yet fully account for the economic benefits from the newly opened Kai Tak Sports Park in 2025. He encouraged the government to provide targeted support for small and medium-sized enterprises through financing assistance and tax incentives to seize emerging opportunities.

Cheng also advocated for stronger promotion of sports-related tourism products to revitalize local district economies and stressed the need for systematic talent development to ensure the industry's long-term growth.