Chen Maobo: Hong Kong attracted about 20 million visitors in the first five months of this year.

On June 8th, Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po stated that a series of events with different themes have been held in Hong Kong this year, leading to a continuous growth in the number of visitors. In the first five months of this year, Hong Kong attracted around 20 million visitors, with Mainland Chinese visitors accounting for about three-quarters, an increase of about 10% compared to the previous year. He estimated that the major events in the first half of this year will attract around 840,000 visitors, bringing in HK$3.3 billion in consumption and HK$1.8 billion in economic value added to Hong Kong. While planning these events, the authorities will actively integrate the activities with other tourism highlights in Hong Kong to enhance synergy and improve the overall tourist experience. Paul Chan Mo-po mentioned that Hong Kong has been particularly lively in recent months, with cultural, entertainment, and sports events attracting many fans who have long awaited the opportunity to see their idols. For example, the Kai Tak Sports Park, which has been open for just over three months, has hosted popular concerts by singers and bands. In the coming months, there will be many highly anticipated concerts and performances by sports teams, with many people already rushing to buy tickets. He pointed out that a variety of events with different themes have enriched Hong Kong's cultural, sports, and entertainment scene, attracting enthusiasts from the local and neighboring regions, including over 80 million people in the Greater Bay Area of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau, as well as friends from Mainland China and other parts of Asia who purposefully visit Hong Kong to participate in and enjoy these events. The expanding potential audience has made it more financially beneficial for Hong Kong to host concerts and other activities, attracting more top performers from around the world to come and perform. The industry is also actively involved in participating and promoting these events. For example, the international pop concert held at the Kai Tak Sports Park earlier offered accommodation packages which were very popular. The West Kowloon Cultural District and other performance venues have been cooperating with the tourism industry to collaborate with concert organizers, surrounding hotels, large shopping malls, shops, restaurants, and tourist attractions to offer discounts and packages, making the most of the economic opportunities presented by these major events. The Hong Kong Tourism Board's "Mega Events Expansion Task Force" actively promotes Hong Kong's unique advantages to global event organizers to attract them to hold their concerts in Hong Kong. Looking ahead to the second half of 2025, multiple cultural, sports, and tourism events will continue to be staged in Hong Kong, including football tournaments, food and wine events, concerts, and new attractions. These events, along with the unique characteristics and hotspots of urban and rural areas, different streets and alleys, are expected to attract a large number of tourists, and there is confidence that the number of visitors will continue to rise throughout the year.