National Day arrivals beat pre-pandemic figures

Hong Kong's Secretary for Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Rosanna Law, announced on Saturday that mainland tourist arrivals during the National Day holiday exceeded pre-pandemic levels, signaling optimism for a successful year. Speaking on a television program, Law reported that around 277,000 mainland tourists visited the city on the first day of the Golden Week holiday, representing approximately 91 percent of the total inbound travelers.

This figure surpassed the 2018 record by 17,000. Law attributed the surge to the Mid-Autumn Festival, which occurred just before the Golden Week holiday, driving visitor numbers up by 28 percent over the weekend.

Despite setting a target of 53.8 million visitor arrivals for the year, Law acknowledged ongoing challenges due to global conditions. She pointed out that fewer flights and high oil prices could deter short-haul visitors, particularly those from Southeast Asia, from spending and visiting Hong Kong. In response, Law pledged to intensify promotional efforts in short-haul markets once the situation stabilizes.

Looking ahead, Law emphasized that the city would continue to monitor travelers' preferences, noting a global trend towards seeking creative and cultural experiences.