{
  "id": 252411,
  "title": "Hong Kong tourism sector urges action with visitor spending 44% below 2018 level",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/hong-kong-tourism-sector-urges-action-with-visitor-spending-44-below",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-07T04:54:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3363256/hong-kong-tourism-sector-urges-action-visitor-spending-44-below-2018-level"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hong Kong's tourism sector is urging for more experiential events and enhanced cross-border cooperation to draw visitors, following a significant decline in visitor spending to HK$197.5 billion (US$25.2 billion) in 2022, which is 44% lower than in 2018. Lawmaker Perry Yiu Pak-leung, chairman of China Travel Service (Hong Kong), attributed the fall to changing travel patterns, with tourists valuing experiences and in-depth exploration over shopping. Noting that lower visitor spending is a global trend, Yiu suggested that while some tourists still have strong purchasing power, their spending depends on Hong Kong's ability to provide longer stays and diverse events. The research found that Hong Kong residents’ non-local expenditure rose by 10% from 2018 to HK$191.1 billion in 2022, with per overnight visitor spending dropping from HK$6,614 to HK$5,503 and per same-day visitor spending falling by over 48% from HK$2,202 to HK$1,139. Visitors’ spending on shopping decreased from 51% to 36% of their total, while spending on dining and activities rose from 28% to 37%. With 49.9 million inbound visitor arrivals last year, down from a 2018 peak of 65.1 million, and Hongkongers making 117.5 million outbound trips, up 28% from 2018, Yiu emphasized the importance of cooperating with mainland cities to attract more tourists. He highlighted the success of the 240-hour visa-free transit scheme for travellers from 55 eligible countries and suggested that working together with Greater Bay Area cities on promotion and tourism products could help boost visitor arrivals.",
  "summary": "Hong Kong’s tourism industry has called for more experiential events and closer cross-border cooperation to draw visitors, after tourist spending fell to HK$197.5 billion (US$25.2 billion) last year, 44 per cent below its 2018 level. Lawmaker Perry Yiu Pak-leung, chairman of China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited, said on Friday that the fall reflected changing travel patterns, with tourists…",
  "key_points": [
    "Hong Kong tourism sector sees 44% decline in visitor spending to HK$197.5 billion in 2022.",
    "Lower visitor spending attributed to changing travel patterns valuing experiences over shopping.",
    "Cooperation with mainland cities and Greater Bay Area suggested to boost visitor arrivals."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
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        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/chinese-activist-zhang-xinyan-wanted-by-hong-kong-govt-finally",
        "published": "2026-08-06T00:20:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
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        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/how-a-hong-kong-luxury-estate-saved-hk-1b-in-renovation-cost-with",
        "published": "2026-08-06T00:30:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}