The tourism and retail sectors are celebrating a vibrant start to the eight-day National Day Golden Week holiday, welcoming over 224,000 mainland visitors by 9pm on the first day -- a five percent increase from last year.
Speaking on a radio program on Thursday (Oct 2), Hong Kong Tourism Association Executive Director Timothy Chui Ting-pong recalled the vibrant scene of yesterday afternoon (Oct 1) in Tsim Sha Tsui.
From the popular "sunset bus rides" to crowds gathering for the National Day fireworks, Chui noted the streets were crowded and restaurants were fully booked.
About 1,200 tour groups expected
While visitors come from various backgrounds, Chui anticipates long-haul travelers from Hunan, Hubei, and southern regions will stay in the city for one to two nights, boosting local spending.
While acknowledging hotel price concerns, he noted that rates in Tsim Sha Tsui have risen only five to ten percent above average, expressing confidence that visitors with spending power would still choose to stay in Hong Kong.
Chui further reported that over 200 tour groups arrived on the first day of the Golden Week, with a projected total of 1,200 for the entire holiday.
Notably, he indicated that approximately half of the tourists are on multi-destination tours, while the other half are on one-day trips.
Citing immigration data that showed 122,000 arrivals on Tuesday (Sep 30)—surpassing the daily average of 80,000 to 100,000—Chui predicted that the influx would peak on Thursday (Oct 2), as multi-destination tourists wrap up visits to Shenzhen or Guangzhou.
Limited interest in "Four Peak" tourism
Regarding the "Four Peak" tourism initiatives, Chui noted that interest in the related hiking trails is limited, as promotions have yet to be launched.
However, he said some visitors still opted to explore local trails yesterday (Oct 1), primarily in popular areas like High Island Reservoir East Dam and easier trails to the Peak as well as Lantau Trail.
Busy tourist areas and increased local spending
Speaking on the same program, lawmaker Peter Shiu Ka-fai reported that the market was bustling yesterday (Oct 1), with queues forming outside cosmetics, luxury goods, pharmacy and jewelry stores in tourist areas.
Shiu attributed the boom to a combination of returning long-haul tourists, Hong Kong residents who work in the mainland returning home, and citywide National Day promotions.
With mainland tourists increasingly seeking experiences over shopping, Shiu suggested Hong Kong develop more local brands and event-based travel packages to attract high-end spending, as well as entice visitors to extend their stay in the city.
Optimistic outlook for Golden Week holiday
Tommy Tam Kwong-shun, chairman of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, reported that at least 220,000 mainland tourists arrived yesterday (Oct 1), aligning with industry expectations.
Tam anticipated a double-digit growth of about 10 to 11 percent compared to last year throughout the Golden Week, with the weekend expected to see the highest influx of visitors.
While 70 percent of incoming tourists are from the mainland, Tam highlighted an increase in visitors from nearby regions such as Australia, Thailand, and the Philippines in the first eight months of this year compared to last year.
"It is a great momentum," Tam said, attributing the positive trend in Australia to effective marketing and increased flight availability.
Regarding hotel occupancy, Tam acknowledged that some mainland travelers may find Hong Kong's hotel prices high.
Despite concerns about hotel pricing, Tam emphasized that Hong Kong offers value for money, reporting the overall occupancy rates reaching 80 to 90 percent during the holiday.
