Hong Kong’s border checkpoints were humming over the past week as the city recorded about 1.6 million visitor arrivals from October 1-7, driven overwhelmingly by travellers from mainland China. According to the inter-departmental Festival Arrangements Working Group chaired by Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, mainland residents accounted for more than 1.41 million entries, beating last year’s tally even though this year’s “Golden Week” holiday was a day shorter. Daily mainland arrivals averaged 202,000 and peaked at 277,000 on October 1, with Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and the West Kowloon high-speed-rail terminus handling the heaviest flows. Tourist groups were back in force too: some 1,140 mainland tour groups—roughly 60 per cent opting to stay overnight—brought more than 41,000 visitors, helping push hotel occupancy to around 90 per cent. Retailers and restaurateurs reported single- to double-digit year-on-year sales growth, buoyed by government-backed discount campaigns and a packed events calendar that included a National Day fireworks display watched by 378,000 people. Sector leaders said mainland travellers are spending more time exploring neighbourhood attractions instead of racing between flagship malls, indicating a healthier mix of day-trippers and longer-stay guests. For corporates, the robust numbers signal a continued normalisation of cross-boundary commerce after years of pandemic disruption. Business events suppliers noted stronger demand for meeting space and group transport, while airlines serving secondary mainland cities reported load factors nearing 85 per cent. Travel-management companies advise booking peak-season itineraries at least four weeks in advance to secure corporate fares and hotel allotments. Looking ahead, immigration officials said the new Huanggang “joint-clearance” facility—scheduled to open on October 12—will further expand capacity. Coupled with reforms such as relaxed e-Channel enrolment for frequent visitors, Hong Kong aims to cement its role as the Greater Bay Area’s de-facto hub for international conferences and high-value tourism.
Source: news.gov.hk
