Key facts
- Hong Kong recorded 1.06 million visitor arrivals in the first four days of the National Day Golden Week.
- Mainland Chinese arrivals on October 1 were 277,304, a 19.1% increase from the previous year.
- Mainland visitors accounted for 939,000 of the total 1.06 million arrivals in the first four days.
- The Hong Kong Immigration Department estimated 1.29 million mainland visitor arrivals for the entire holiday period.
- Retailers reported a 30% improvement in business performance on October 1 due to the influx of tourists.
- The catering sector saw a 10% to 20% increase in business on October 1 compared to a typical weekend.
Hong Kong experienced a significant surge in visitor arrivals from mainland China at the beginning of the National Day “golden week” holiday, with numbers on October 1 exceeding those from the previous year and pre-pandemic levels. The Immigration Department reported 277,304 mainland visitors on October 1, a 19.1% increase from the same day last year. Overall, the city saw 1.06 million visitor arrivals in the first four days of the holiday, including 939,000 from the mainland and 117,000 from overseas, averaging 264,000 per day.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po noted that over 732,000 mainland visitors arrived in the first three days, an 8.4% year-on-year increase. The Immigration Department estimates that total mainland visitor arrivals will reach approximately 1.29 million for the entire seven-day holiday period, with a projected daily average increase of over 5% compared to last year.
Tourism sector representatives attributed the early rush partly to a fireworks display and a shorter break, encouraging tourists to maximize their time. The Hong Kong Tourism Board reported 5.46 million visitor arrivals in August, the highest monthly total since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The influx of tourists has boosted local retail, catering, and hospitality sectors. The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong reported bookings exceeding expectations. The Hong Kong Retail Management Association indicated that 30% of surveyed retailers saw improved business on October 1, with jewelry, cosmetics, and personal care sectors showing positive growth. The catering sector reported a 10% to 20% increase in business on October 1, with restaurants in tourist areas like Tsim Sha Tsui and Mongkok seeing growth of 20% or more due to the fireworks display.
Mainland visitors also utilized their trips for financial services, with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) reporting a 10% to 15% surge in new accounts opened by cross-border customers. These clients primarily engaged in term deposits, foreign currency purchases, and fund investments, seeking Hong Kong's diverse and flexible portfolio options as an international financial center.