Visitor surge in H1 2024 with 700,000 convention tourists staying overnight: HKTB

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced on Thursday that there were 700,000 overnight convention tourists in the first half of 2024, recovering to 80 percent of the pre-pandemic level, and successfully bid for and facilitated more than 60 large-scale international conventions and exhibitions to be held from this year to 2026.

About 21 million visitors arrived in Hong Kong in the first half of 2024, representing a 64 percent increase year-on-year, with overnight visitors accounting for 50 percent of all arrivals during the period.

HKTB said the city has received 700,000 meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) tourism sector travelers, making MICE travel the fastest-recovering visitor segment in Hong Kong.

Each overnight MICE visitor spent an average of HK$8,000, which is about 20 to 30 percent higher than the average per capita spend of all inbound overnight visitors. 

MICE visitors also stayed in Hong Kong for 3.7 nights on average, higher than the average of 3.2 nights for overnight visitors.

HKTB added that they have successfully bid for over 60 large-scale international conventions to be held in Hong Kong from this year until 2026, with themes ranging from innovative technology, aviation, education, etc.

The Board expected there would be at least 220,000 visitors in total for the conventions, with mainland and overseas visitors accounting for 180,000.

The government highlighted that more than 210 mega events are being held throughout 2024 across various fields such as culture, art, and sports.

The events are anticipated to attract approximately 1.7 million visitors to Hong Kong, bringing HK$7.2 billion in consumption revenues and adding approximately HK$4.3 billion to the local economy.