Mid-Autumn festival sees up to 15pc decline in business: catering veteran

A 10 to 15 percent decrease in business was seen during this year's Mid-Autumn Festival compared to last year, said Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades president Simon Wong Ka-wo.

Speaking on a radio program on Wednesday, Wong attributed the decline to Hongkongers traveling to the mainland and abroad, with significantly more departures from Hong Kong than arrivals over the holiday weekend.

He mentioned that festive events such as the fire dragon dance and drone show have had a positive impact on dining establishments in specific districts only. However, other regions continue to experience reduced foot traffic.

On the other hand, hotel occupancy rates reached 80 to 90 percent as Mid-Autumn activities attracted a number of short-term visitors, said Hong Kong Tourism Association executive director Timothy Chui Ting-pong. 

During the three-day Mid-Autumn holiday in the mainland, about 350,000 mainland visitors came to Hong Kong, while over 810,000 Hong Kong residents traveled abroad, more than doubling the number of visitors.

Looking ahead to National Day celebrations, Chui believes various celebration events could attract more long-distance travelers, potentially leading to a peak in visitor numbers.