{
  "id": 11654956,
  "title": "National Day arrivals beat pre-pandemic figures",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/national-day-arrivals-beat-pre-pandemic-figures",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-03T09:38:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTHK English",
    "slug": "rthk-english",
    "url": "https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1872560-20261003.htm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nDespite 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.",
  "summary": "Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law stated on Saturday that mainland tourist arrivals to Hong Kong during National Day exceeded pre-pandemic levels, raising hopes for strong visitor numbers across the entire year. Speaking on a television programme, she said the city welcomed around 277,000 mainland tourists on the first day of the Golden Week holiday – accounting for roughly 91…",
  "key_points": [
    "Mainland tourist arrivals during National Day holiday exceed pre-pandemic levels",
    "277,000 mainland tourists visited Hong Kong on Golden Week holiday",
    "Mid-Autumn Festival contributed to 28% increase in visitor numbers"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "RTHK News",
        "title": "National Day arrivals beat pre-pandemic figures",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/national-day-arrivals-beat-pre-pandemic-figures-11655719",
        "published": "2026-10-03T09:38:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}