Mainland Chinese arrivals to Hong Kong surged at start of ‘golden week’ holiday

The National Day "golden week" holiday saw a surge in mainland Chinese visitors arriving in Hong Kong, according to Immigration Department figures. On October 1, 277,304 visitors entered the city, marking a 19.1% increase from the first day of last year's holiday and a 25.1% rise from the same day in 2024. The fireworks display was cited as a major factor contributing to the early rush, with lawmaker Perry Yiu Pak-leung attributing the influx partly to it.

The seven-day holiday was one day shorter than the previous year, prompting some visitors to begin their trips earlier. After the first day, the influx moderated, with mainland arrivals growing 5.4% year-on-year to 234,007 on the second day and remaining nearly unchanged at 221,566 on the third. A total of 939,057 mainland visitors entered Hong Kong during the first four days, a 7% increase from the same period last year and a 14.5% rise from 2024.

Departures outnumbered arrivals on most days, with a net inflow of 227,506 on the first day. The hotel sector reported over 90% bookings on the first day, anticipating an overall occupancy of about 90% during the holiday break. Nighttime attractions, such as fireworks and lantern displays, could encourage visitors to stay overnight rather than return to the mainland on the same day.

However, the influx also exposed issues like poor environmental hygiene and littering. Social media posts highlighted heavy crowds at popular attractions, with one visitor describing Kennedy Town as "packed to bursting." The government has forecast about 1.29 million mainland visitors will enter Hong Kong during the seven-day holiday.