Hong Kong’s tourism rebound accelerated in August, with provisional data showing 5.46 million arrivals—the highest monthly total since COVID-19 border restrictions were lifted at the start of 2024. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) said on 15 September that the figure represents a six-per-cent year-on-year rise and takes total arrivals for January-to-August to 36.67 million, up 11 per cent on the same period in 2025. Long-haul markets led the charge: visitor numbers from Europe, North America and the Middle East jumped 18 per cent to 289,490, helped by a packed calendar of international conferences and exhibitions. Mega-events—including the Hong Kong Football Festival, Art Central Summer Edition and the World Semiconductor Summit—have been singled out by the HKTB as key magnets for high-spending overnight guests. The agency said it will step up promotions for the Mid-Autumn lantern carnival and Halloween street parties and will scale up its ‘Night Vibes Hong Kong’ campaign to convert day-trippers into over-nighters. Despite the headline growth, short-haul arrivals from North Asia and Southeast Asia fell 4 per cent, with airlines citing aircraft shortages and high fuel surcharges for capacity constraints. The HKTB plans to work with carriers on tactical fare bundles and to lobby for additional traffic rights during the year-end peak. Corporate travel managers told Global Mobility News that hotel prices have already surpassed 2019 levels on event days, and they advise booking rooms at least six weeks out. Immigration consultants add that processing times for Talent Pass applications remain stable at two weeks, but applicants should factor in longer background-check lead times ahead of the October rush.
Source: RTHK
