Travel industry proposes horse racing tours to build on LNY golden week success

Riding the wave of stronger-than-expected growth in horse racing tourism during the nine-day Lunar New Year "Golden Week," the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC) is pushing for more organized tours to keep visitors coming.

The suggestions come as Hong Kong welcomed about 1.02 million mainland visitors in the first six days of the holiday—a 13 percent surge compared to last year. 

The TIC estimates a 10 percent year-on-year increase in overall visitor numbers for the entire Golden Week, with horse racing tourism getting off to a strong start.

Tommy Tam Kwong-shun, chairman of the TIC, reported an 8 percent increase in visitor numbers from the 28th day of last lunar month to the fourth day of the New Year.

Notably, the increase included a significant number of Australian tourists, which Tam attributed to the increased number of flights. 

He projected that both mainland and overseas visitor numbers would each rise by about 10 percent for the holiday period, with average length of stay holding steady at about three nights—similar to previous years.

Tam credited the increase to a compelling line-up of festive events that drew crowds to Hong Kong's major attractions.

He pointed out that "horse racing tourism" stood out with stronger-than-expected growth, adding that most tourists find the races exciting and lively.

He suggested developing more tour packages that allow visitors to learn about the history of horse racing, enjoy the dining options at the racecourse, and take advantage of photo opportunities.

However, the "Made in Hong Kong" industrial tourism initiative, launched late last year, has only seen single-digit tour groups participating in its first two months.

Tam indicated there are three brands participating in the pilot phase, but scheduling conflicts have limited uptake.

"The Lunar New Year holiday and the peak season have limited the factories' flexibility due to staffing and production schedules," Tam explained.

He further indicated that the industry is in discussions to optimize this initiative, with authorities engaging around ten long-established brands about opening their factories or premises for tours.

“Some of the brands are not in the food industry, and we are also considering allowing local residents to book visits,” Tam added.

Despite strong visitor numbers to start the year, Tam urged caution, emphasizing that the industry should not focus solely on chasing numbers.

"We need to ensure we have the capacity to handle the volume," he said, expressing confidence that Hong Kong can expect at least 50 million visitors this year.