Hong Kong welcomed over four million tourists in May, representing a 20 percent increase compared to the same period last year, with long-haul travelers also experiencing a similar growth rate.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) reported that 4.08 million visitors arrived in the city last month, attributed to the Labour Day Golden Week holidays as well as numerous large-scale events, including concerts and meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE).
From January to May of this year, the cumulative number of visitors surpassed 20 million, representing a 12 percent year-on-year increase. Among these visitors, approximately 15.2 million came from mainland China, indicating a 10 percent rise in numbers.
In addition, non-mainland markets exhibited consistent growth, with around 5 million tourists recorded in the first five months, marking an 18 percent increase.
Notably, there was a significant rise in visitor numbers from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines by over 25 percent, while arrivals from Australia also saw a remarkable increase exceeding 35 percent.
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui expressed optimism about the growth in visitor numbers, projecting the count to reach 49 million for the year, a 10 percent increase from the previous year.
She is confident that with the joint efforts of the government, industry stakeholders and the community, the tourism sector is poised for continued growth in the years ahead.
(Canny Lau)
