Golden Week Arrivals Beat Pre-Pandemic Peak; Tourism Chief Confident on Annual 53.8M Target
HK01 · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong recorded approximately 277,000 mainland visitor trips on the first day of National Day Golden Week, surpassing the pre-pandemic peak of 260,000 from 2018, according to Culture, Sports and Tourism Secretary Lo Suk-mei. The government projects the week-long holiday period will generate about HK$1 billion in business for the city. Lo expressed confidence in achieving the annual target of 5.38 million visitor arrivals, though she acknowledged challenges from elevated airfares affecting short-haul markets, particularly Southeast Asia. The tourism chief highlighted a fundamental shift in visitor spending patterns, noting that travelers now prioritize experiences over material purchases.
Key Points
- Total of 305,500 visitors entered Hong Kong on October 1, including 277,000 from mainland China, surpassing both last year's 267,000 and the 2018 pre-pandemic peak of 260,000
- Government estimates approximately 1.29 million mainland visitors will arrive during the full Golden Week, representing a 5% year-on-year increase on a daily average basis
- Secretary Lo is confident about reaching the annual 5.38 million visitor target, with 36.7 million arrivals recorded through August
- Regional instability is dampening short-haul market demand, as high oil prices and limited flight availability have pushed airfares upward, affecting Southeast Asian visitors' willingness to travel to Hong Kong
- Post-pandemic visitors have shifted away from bulk purchasing habits, preferring experiential spending; creative cultural products such as designer toys and artistic collaborations at malls are proving particularly popular
Why It Matters
The Golden Week figures signal that Hong Kong's tourism recovery is on track, with visitor numbers not only returning to pre-pandemic levels but exceeding them—a positive indicator for retail, dining, and hospitality sectors seeking economic revival . However, the structural shift toward experiential tourism means the city must continue developing unique events and creative products rather than relying on traditional shopping-driven tourism to sustain long-term growth in visitor spending .
The Golden Week figures signal that Hong Kong's tourism recovery is on track, with visitor numbers not only returning to pre-pandemic levels but exceeding them—a positive indicator for retail, dining, and hospitality sectors seeking economic revival . However, the structural shift toward experiential tourism means the city must continue developing unique events and creative products rather than relying on traditional shopping-driven tourism to sustain long-term growth in visitor spending .