Golden Week influx sees 1.6 million visitors arrive in Hong Kong, signalling sustained tourism rebound

Hong Kong’s tourism sector received a major shot in the arm over the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week (1–7 October), with 1.6 million visitor arrivals recorded—of which more than 1.41 million came from Mainland China—according to Immigration Department figures released on 8 October. The tally eclipses last year’s total despite the 2026 holiday period being one day shorter. The surge was fuelled by pent-up demand, the first National Day fireworks in four years and aggressive hotel-shopping packages. Victoria Harbour’s 23-minute pyrotechnic show alone attracted 378,000 spectators, while National Day race meetings at Sha Tin drew nearly 30,000 punters, 9,300 of them tourists. Retailers in Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay reported double-digit year-on-year sales growth, boosted by mainland digital-payment promotions. For mobility managers, the data confirms that Hong Kong’s control points are once again handling near-pre-pandemic volumes. Between 1 and 7 October, the Lo Wu checkpoint processed 2.19 million passenger trips (inbound and outbound), while the airport handled 1.07 million—severely testing staffing rosters and e-Gate capacity. Operators will use the numbers as a dry run for the Christmas peak and the Asian Financial Forum in January. The Government had predicted 7.44 million total cross-boundary movements during the week, but actual traffic hit 8.02 million, prompting officials to pledge more flexible deployment of immigration officers for year-end festivities. Analysts say the figures will strengthen the case for further visa-free agreements and expanded flight capacity caps in the upcoming Policy Address. Companies hosting regional meetings in Hong Kong should expect tight hotel inventory through Q4. Travel managers are advised to lock in group rates early and remind Mainland guests that hotel self-check-in kiosks now require live facial verification under the city’s updated Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.