National Day arrivals beat pre-pandemic figures

Hong Kong's Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law announced on Saturday that visitor arrivals from mainland China during the National Day holiday surpassed pre-pandemic levels, signaling optimism for a prosperous year in tourism. Speaking on a television program, Law revealed that approximately 277,000 mainland tourists visited Hong Kong on the inaugural day of the Golden Week holiday, constituting around 91% of the total inbound travelers for that day. This figure marked a 17,000 increase over the previous record set in 2018.

Law also highlighted the impact of the preceding Mid-Autumn Festival, noting that visitor numbers surged by 28 percent during the weekend. Despite her confidence in meeting the city's target of 53.8 million visitor arrivals for the year, Law acknowledged ongoing challenges due to global circumstances. She pointed out potential flight restrictions and high airfares resulting from rising oil prices, which may discourage short-haul visitors, particularly from Southeast Asia, from traveling to Hong Kong.

In response to these challenges, Law vowed to intensify promotional efforts in short-haul markets once travel conditions improve. Looking ahead, she emphasized that Hong Kong would continue to analyze tourist preferences, recognizing that such trends are a global phenomenon. Law noted a shift towards seeking out creative and cultural experiences, a pattern evident worldwide.