Hong Kong’s Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) sector is charting a strong recovery, with India emerging as one of its most dynamic growth markets. In 2024, the city welcomed 1.42 million overnight MICE visitors—a 10% increase from the previous year—bringing arrivals back to 80% of pre-pandemic levels. Driving this rebound is the surging demand from India, where visitor numbers rose by more than 70% year-on-year.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is determined to build on this momentum. With a clear focus on India’s outbound corporate market, HKTB recently concluded two high-impact familiarization (FAM) tours aimed at positioning Hong Kong as a premier incentive and events destination for Indian companies. The initiatives showcased the city’s world-class infrastructure, bespoke experiences, and its growing cruise tourism appeal.
“India is among the top five source markets for incentive group travel and one of the fastest-growing MICE markets for Hong Kong,” said Puneet Kumar, Director – South Asia, HKTB. “We have seen robust demand from Indian corporates to stage events here, supported by a strong pipeline of business from our strategic partners. With Hong Kong’s state-of-the-art venues, unique cultural offerings, cruise itineraries and over 200 mega events annually, the city is fully equipped to host everything from large-scale programmes to tailored corporate events.”
Corporate Buyers Experience Hong Kong First-Hand
The first leg, The Next Stop: Hong Kong – Corporate Buyers Familiarization Tour, held from 8–11 June 2025, welcomed senior representatives from eight of India’s leading corporations. Collectively, these companies account for thousands of outbound incentive travellers annually, with group sizes ranging from 400 to over 4,000 participants.
Delegates explored a curated programme that blended business-ready infrastructure with memorable cultural and leisure experiences. Key highlights included:
- Site visits to top venues such as the Kerry Hotel, Kowloon Shangri-La, and the Hong Kong International Airport VIP Lounge.
- Cultural immersion, with participation in the 2025 Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races and an evening at the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Sha Tin Racecourse.
- Luxury on water, with a harbour cruise aboard Aqua Luna and a yacht excursion from Tsim Sha Tsui to Discovery Bay.
- Signature attractions, including The Peak, Sky Terrace 428, Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car, and Ngong Ping Village.
- Theme park excitement, from Water World Ocean Park to Hong Kong Disneyland, complete with a guided tour of the “World of Frozen” and a VIP viewing of the Momentous nighttime spectacular.
- Interactive workshops, such as a DFS fragrance experience and a Tai Chi class, showcasing the city’s customizable team-building options.
Hong Kong’s Cruise Appeal
The second leg, All Aboard! Hong Kong MICE – Cruise Familiarization Tour, held from 16–21 July 2025, targeted top travel intermediaries from five key Indian cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad. The tour emphasised Hong Kong’s positioning as a regional cruise hub.
Delegates visited landmark venues such as the West Kowloon Cultural District’s M+ museum and Xiqu Centre, before embarking on a two-night cruise aboard Star Voyager, operated by StarDream Cruises. The programme combined leisure and networking, with themed dining, a Caribbean pool party, high-energy entertainment shows, and curated ship tours tailored to the Indian incentive market.
On land, participants experienced Hong Kong’s eclectic mix of old and new: the city’s iconic party tram, the Peak Tram, the newly introduced twin pandas at Ocean Park, and another exclusive nighttime viewing at Disneyland. Evenings were spent at leading Marriott International properties, with one highlight being a derby racing evening at the Happy Valley Racecourse.
Building the India-Hong Kong MICE Connection
Both FAM tours were designed to immerse Indian corporates and travel planners in the breadth of experiences Hong Kong offers. HKTB also presented its Hong Kong Incentive Playbook, a dedicated resource with over 100 curated experiences and 40 team-building ideas spanning arts, culture, nightlife, entertainment, and wellness. For groups ranging from 20 to 400-plus, HKTB’s in-town hospitality rewards and incentive schemes add an extra layer of value for planners.
The strategy is already delivering results. Between January and August 2025, Hong Kong recorded 262,000 Indian visitors across segments, marking a strong double-digit year-on-year increase. With India emerging as a vital source of business, HKTB is committed to diversifying its offerings to maintain Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s leading MICE destination.
“India remains a vital growth market,” Kumar emphasised. “We are confident that with deeper engagement and enhanced experiences, Hong Kong will continue to attract corporate groups from India in even greater numbers.”
