Tourist arrivals gain traction

Rachael Ng

Hong Kong welcomed about 3.92 million tourists last month, reflecting a nearly 10 percent increase compared to the same month last year, according to the Tourism Board. Among these visitors, around half stayed overnight.

The most notable rise was seen among non-mainland visitors, which surged by 27.5 percent. Both long-haul and short-haul non-Chinese visitors increased by 32.1 percent.

Additionally, the city saw a remarkable 63 percent growth in tourists from "new markets," including India, Russia, the Netherlands, Vietnam, and Gulf Cooperation Council markets.

From January to July this year, Hong Kong hosted about 25 million tourists, marking a 52 percent increase from the same period last year. This total included 19.3 million mainland visitors and 5.8 million non-mainland visitors, reflecting year-on-year increases of 47.3 percent and 71.1 percent, respectively.

Short-haul visitors increased by over 90 percent, while long-haul visitors rose by over 80 percent during the first seven months.

In light of these trends, the Tourism Board announced plans to enhance visitor experiences with more drone shows and pyrotechnic displays during upcoming festive periods.

Notable events include a festival-themed drone show on the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 17 and additional displays during "Hong Kong WinterFest" in November, followed by a firework display for "Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations" in December, subject to weather and venue conditions.

Surveys from the drone shows held in May and June - celebrating the Cheung Chau Bun Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival - indicated over 90 percent of tourists felt these events enhanced their experience in the city, and more than 95 percent expressed a willingness to recommend the shows to friends and family.