Hong Kong’s Immigration Department has forecast that about 1.29 million travellers from mainland China will enter the city between 1 and 7 October for the National Day “golden week” holiday. The estimate, revealed on 23 September, represents the highest inbound volume since the full re-opening of the border in early 2024 and is roughly 15 per cent above last year’s figure. Officials say most visitors will arrive through land checkpoints such as Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line, and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge (HZMB). To cope, the Immigration Department will deploy 1 000 additional officers, open all e-channels, and keep selected control points operating 24 hours. The MTR Corporation will boost cross-border train frequency, while bus operators have been asked to add late-night departures from major shopping districts. For the tourism sector, the surge is a welcome boost. The Travel Industry Authority expects 1 180 inbound tour groups, with spending concentrated in retail outlets that cater to short-haul visitors. Hotels in Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay have already reported occupancy levels above 90 per cent for the period, and average daily rates are up 12 per cent on last year. Businesses should prepare for heavier footfall, longer delivery lead-times and possible delays at land crossings. Corporate travel managers are advised to book accommodation and ground transport immediately and to brief employees on crowd-control measures at control points. Meanwhile, authorities warn that unauthorised tour-group shopping stops and “coercive sales” tactics will face stepped-up inspection, signalling tighter consumer-protection enforcement. The Golden Week influx underscores Hong Kong’s strategic role in the Greater Bay Area’s mobility network and offers a litmus test of the city’s readiness to handle large-scale visitor flows ahead of the winter peak season.
Source: South China Morning Post
