F&B sector sees muted demand during Dragon Boat Festival holidays

A veteran from the food and beverage sector stated that despite the influx of mainland tourists, the industry did not experience a significant surge in business during the Dragon Boat Festival holidays. 

Over the past two days, the number of local residents traveling to the mainland decreased compared to the previous Easter holiday period. However, the number of mainland visitors increased by around 40 percent, reaching 250,000. 

Simon Wong Ka-wo, the president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants & Related Trades, said Monday that while it's unclear if the enthusiasm for spending in the mainland has decreased, the overall restaurant business in the past weekend could have been better. 

He said there was a 30 percent decline in businesses compared to last year's Dragon Boat Festival. 

Wong noted that restaurants were generally quiet on the past weekend evenings. Sales of traditional rice dumplings have also been disappointing, with some eateries having decided not to sell them this year.  

As for the upcoming Father's Day, he expected a 10 to 15 percent drop in business compared to last year. 

Wong noted that although more mainland Chinese restaurant brands have been establishing a presence in Hong Kong, which would pose challenges for local operators, the industry should seize the opportunity to learn from its counterparts. For example, they could explore using artificial intelligence to address labor shortages.