Tourism industry expects 10 percent surge in visitors in Dec

The travel sector estimated that the number of visitors will increase by 5 to 10 percent compared to the same period last year, according to Gianna Hsu Wong Mei-lun, chair of the Travel Industry Council.

Speaking at the launch ceremony of Hong Kong's Quality Tourism Services Initiative, she expressed confidence in the city's tourism industry for December, which is the traditional peak season.

She emphasized that the growing number of new airline routes and the operation of the airport's three-runway system will attract more tourists to the city.

She noted that more direct flights targeting Southeast Asia markets are being gradually launched, and direct flights to Hualien in Taiwan are set to operate in mid-December.

Additionally, direct flights from Hong Kong to Almaty in Kazakhstan are expected to start operating by the second quarter of next year, with direct flights to and from Bhutan scheduled to begin in January 2025.