According to the latest data from the Wisers Tourism Index, the number of inbound travelers to Hong Kong is expected to significantly increase throughout October, primarily benefiting from the National Day Golden Week.
Since the end of September, promotions for the “MTR Octopus Fare-paying Trip Discounts” have appeared on mainland OTA media and Weibo, sparking discussions among netizens. Subsequently, various merchants have launched different offers, such as “Ride Hailing Red Packets” and travel packages to Hong Kong, further increasing discussions about traveling to Hong Kong. There have even been trending topics on Weibo encouraging mainland tourists to visit Hong Kong.
According to statistics from the Immigration Department, the number of mainland visitors to Hong Kong during the National Day holiday reached 1,216,568, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, and has recovered to 80% of pre-pandemic levels in 2018. This highlights the ongoing enthusiasm of mainland tourists for traveling to Hong Kong.
On social media, many netizens shared their experiences of traveling in Hong Kong during the National Day holiday. Besides classic tourist attractions, they also shared their participation in National Day celebrations, such as riding the National Day special edition Star Ferry and watching drone performances. Among the various celebratory events, the National Day fireworks display received the most attention, with many netizens finding the performance stunning. Some even used it as a metaphor for the country’s prosperity, expressing their joy and satisfaction.
Overall, as transportation, entertainment, and shopping promotions drive travelers to Hong Kong, we anticipate that the number of tourists in October and at year-end will continue to rise. According to the recently released “2024 Policy Address,” the Hong Kong Government has proposed to the central government to resume the “multiple-entry” Individual Visit Endorsements for Shenzhen and to expand the pilot cities for the “one trip per week” Individual Visit Endorsements. Starting from today, the Government has also relaxed the criteria for nationals of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar applying for multiple-entry visas for travel and business, extending the visa’s validity from two years to three years. With sufficient promotion and traveler incentive policies, the Hong Kong tourism industry is expected to gradually recover to pre-pandemic levels, once again shining brightly.
