Paul Chan anticipates boost from mega events with 840,000 tourists, $3.3b generated in spending

The mega events in the first half of the year are expected to attract a total of 840,000 tourists and benefit the city with HK$3.3 billion in spending, according to Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po.

In his weekly blog, Paul Chan stated that 20 million visitors have been recorded in the first five months, with three out of four being mainland tourists, increasing by 10 percent and 18 percent in overseas tourists over the year respectively.

Chan added that the government has proactively linked travel hotspots with mega events to enhance visitors' experiences, aiming for them to stay in Hong Kong for a longer period. 

The economic value added by the visiting individuals related to the mega events is expected to be around HK$1.8 billion.

The financial chief believed there would be more tourists in the second half of the year, followed by a bunch of culture, sports and tourism-related activities.

Chan also urged the industry to prioritize creativity over services and advertising on social media to cope with the changes in consumer habits.

(Nathan Lim)