Hong Kong Tourism sees boost with 3.6 million visitors in July

Hong Kong Tourism Board reports a 31% month-on-month increase in July visitor numbers and shares insights from a trade update, focusing on evolving tourism trends and recovery initiatives.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has disclosed preliminary figures that suggest a notable increase in visitors in July, reaching 3.6 million, a rise of 31% from June. The first seven months of the year collectively welcomed approximately 16.5 million visitors, with an average daily count of 116,000 in July.

In a trade update on 10 August, the HKTB provided an overview of Hong Kong’s tourism landscape, discussing current trends and forthcoming initiatives. Over 700 representatives spanning diverse sectors like local travel agencies, airlines, hotels, retailers, food services, and convention organizers participated.

Mr. Dane Cheng, HKTB’s Executive Director, commented, “Hong Kong’s tourism industry is recovering gradually. Our visitor arrivals have outpaced other Southeast Asian locations, with the Philippines and Thailand nearing 90% of their pre-pandemic figures last month. Mainland’s recovery is approximately 70%. Interestingly, about half of these are overnight stays, a slight rise from pre-COVID numbers. Recognizing post-pandemic shifts in tourism preferences, we are gearing our efforts towards offering richer, more diverse experiences. The HKTB aims to entice various demographic groups, championing our unique tourism propositions, and orchestrating flagship events to elevate Hong Kong’s allure.”

Highlighting the value of the trade update, he noted its role in keeping industry stakeholders informed about evolving tourism dynamics, enabling collective efforts to rejuvenate Hong Kong’s tourism.

Key insights shared at the Trade Update included:

• A recap of recent tourism metrics and Hong Kong’s recovery trajectory.
• Emergent trends among Hong Kong visitors:
  1. Growing preference for High-Speed Rail travel.
  2. Rising interest in arts, culture, and eco-tourism, particularly among younger visitors.
  3. A shift from predominantly shopping-driven visits to more experiential ones.
  4. A strong rebound in MICE ( s) tourism.

In the pipeline for the HKTB:

1. Seeing is Believing: Inviting partners, media, celebrities, and influencers from the Mainland and abroad to firsthand experience and then promote Hong Kong’s myriad attractions.
2. Mega Events: Organizing and supporting hallmark events like the Hong Kong Cyclothon, Wine & Dine Festival, WinterFest, and New Year Countdown Celebrations to amplify Hong Kong’s tourism magnetism.
3. Tailored Market Promotions: Focusing on primary markets, such as the Mainland and Southeast Asia, leveraging popular platforms among younger demographics and accentuating MICE tourism promotions.

Provisional visitor arrivals for July 2023

Note: Because of rounding, the total may differ from the sum of the individual figures.
*Includes figures from long-haul, short-haul, and new markets, as well as the Macao SAR. (Full details of July 2023 visitor arrivals will be released on 31 August.)