Hong Kong Tourism Board: The number of visitors to Hong Kong in the first half of the year was approximately 26.71 million, an increase of 13% compared to the same period last year.

The Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Rosanna Wong, replied to questions from members of the Legislative Council today (July 8th) that in the first half of 2026, there were approximately 26.71 million visitors to Hong Kong, an increase of 13% compared to the previous year. Among them, visitors from Mainland China and non-Mainland China regions increased by 16% and 5% respectively. Wong stated that in order to further expand the benefits of major events, the Hong Kong Tourism Board will take advantage of the upcoming Hong Kong Football Festival 2026 in August, as well as the musical "CATS", to actively collaborate with merchants from different regions to launch a new round of promotion and discounts, and will upgrade the flagship event "Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival" to a month-long event in November to attract visitors to stay longer in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Tourism Board will continue to strive for hosting major cultural and sporting events in Hong Kong, and has successfully secured the hosting of the 2027 HYROX World Championships for the first time in Hong Kong. Wong pointed out that major events are important drivers for promoting tourism and economic development in Hong Kong. On one hand, major events directly attract visitors, boosting consumption in hotels, restaurants, retail, etc. On the other hand, they also create job opportunities in transportation, logistics, event production, and other industries. The economic benefits of major events should not be measured solely by overnight visitors, as even visitors who do not stay overnight still contribute significantly to consumption in transportation, dining, and entertainment. Since the opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park last year, it has already hosted over 60 major sports events and concerts, attracting over 2.4 million spectators and boosting local consumption and employment, providing substantial impetus to the local economy. The continued increase in visitor numbers reflects the success of the strategy of combining "major events + tourism". She mentioned that there is a structural change in the consumption pattern of visitors, with a shift from shopping-centric to a focus on culture and experiences. The average spending per overnight visitor in 2025 increased slightly to HK$5,503 from HK$5,490 in 2024, and is expected to increase slightly to HK$5,530 in 2026. As for non-overnight visitors, their average spending decreased from HK$1,235 in 2024 to HK$1,139 in 2025, and is expected to remain at a similar level in 2026. Even though some event participants do not stay overnight, they still contribute to consumption in transportation, dining, and entertainment. For example, each event at Kai Tak Sports Park can create nearly 10,000 temporary jobs, with actual economic contributions far exceeding ticket revenue and visitor spending. Benefiting from the strong growth in visitor numbers, total spending related to inbound tourism increased by 13% in 2025, reaching HK$217.5 billion, and is expected to rise by approximately 10% to HK$238.1 billion in 2026. To adapt to the changing travel patterns of visitors, the Hong Kong Tourism Board promotes high-quality tourism development through the "major events +" strategy, upgrading large-scale events from single projects to themed experiences across different time periods and regions. This is aimed at extending the length of stay for visitors in Hong Kong, expanding consumption scenes, and benefiting sectors such as dining, retail, hotels, and transportation. For example, this year's Hong Kong International Sevens Rugby tournament lasted for three days and attracted over 113,000 spectators. Over 30% of the attendees were non-local tourists. During the same week, there were also the Hong Kong Tens Rugby tournament, as well as the "Horse Racing x Rugby" event at Happy Valley Racecourse, along with celebratory activities and dining discounts throughout the city, stimulating the local economy. In terms of cultural events, this year's "Arts Month" connected multiple cultural events over the course of a month, including the Art Basel Hong Kong exhibition and Art Central, attracting approximately 55,000 visitors. Meetings, exhibitions, and incentive tourism are also major sources of high-value overnight visitors. The Hong Kong government, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, actively seeks to attract large international conferences and exhibitions to Hong Kong. For instance, the five-day 108th Lions Clubs International Convention recently concluded, with approximately 17,000 delegates from around the world participating. Some delegates brought their families along, leading to demand for over ten thousand hotel rooms, as well as driving consumption in dining, retail, and related sectors, resulting in significant economic benefits. In May of this year, the Hong Kong Tourism Board signed a three-year memorandum of understanding with Informa Markets, a global leading organizer of trade exhibitions, to bring in top-tier events such as luxury car shows and yacht exhibitions to Hong Kong, attracting high-end international business travelers. Additionally, the Hong Kong Tourism Board is actively expanding into potential and high-value markets such as the Middle East to increase the proportion of overnight visitors. Wong stated that Hong Kong has unique coastal and island resources, making it ideal for developing island tourism. The government encourages and welcomes interested parties to utilize these natural resources to develop comprehensive resort projects that respect and protect the ecological environment, providing tourists with new and diverse travel experiences. If specific proposals are put forward, the Hong Kong Tourism Board is willing to actively discuss and play a leading role, coordinating with relevant policy bureaus and departments to facilitate development.