Hong Kong visitor arrivals up 20% in May, thanks to China's Golden Week holiday, large-scale events
Hong Kong logged 4.08 million visitor arrivals in May, a 20 per cent year-on-year increase, thanks to China's Golden Week holiday and large-scale events that attracted regional tourists, the city's tourism board has said.
Citing provisional data, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) said on Monday that more than 20 million tourists from around the world visited the city in the first five months of this year – a 12 per cent increase from the same period last year.
Visitors from mainland China continued to account for the largest number of arrivals in May, totalling 3.12 million – a 19 per cent year-on-year increase.
Non-mainland Chinese visitors rose by 24 per cent in May to over 955,000 people.
In the first five months of this year, over 15 million mainland Chinese visitors came to Hong Kong, a 10 per cent increase from the same period last year.
Meanwhile, visitors from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines surged by more than 25 per cent year on year over the same period, while Australian visitors increased by over 35 per cent, according to the HKTB.
Hong Kong held major cultural events in May, such as the iconic Cheung Chau Bun Festival, the French May Arts Festival, and a special Picasso art exhibition at the M+ museum, as well as meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) events, the HKTB said.
The Picasso exhibition, the opening programme of the French May festival, will run until July 13.
During the Golden Week holiday, which ran from May 1 to 5, Hong Kong welcomed about 1.1 million visitors – a 22 per cent increase from last year, said Chief Executive John Lee.
Hong Kong faces an uphill battle to lure tourists to the city after the city lifted all anti-pandemic travel curbs in early 2023.
The provisional arrival figure for May this year still lagged behind that of May 2019, when nearly six million people travelled to the city.
During his budget speech in February, financial chief Paul Chan said that the government would allocate over HK$1.23 billion to the HKTB to attract 'high-end visitors' from the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
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Hong Kong visitor arrivals up 20% in May, thanks to China's Golden Week holiday, large-scale events
Hong Kong logged 4.08 million visitor arrivals in May, a 20 per cent year-on-year increase, thanks to China's Golden Week holiday and large-scale events that attracted regional tourists, the city's tourism board has said. Citing provisional data, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) said on Monday that more than 20 million tourists from around the world visited the city in the first five months of this year – a 12 per cent increase from the same period last year. Visitors from mainland China continued to account for the largest number of arrivals in May, totalling 3.12 million – a 19 per cent year-on-year increase. Non-mainland Chinese visitors rose by 24 per cent in May to over 955,000 people. In the first five months of this year, over 15 million mainland Chinese visitors came to Hong Kong, a 10 per cent increase from the same period last year. Meanwhile, visitors from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines surged by more than 25 per cent year on year over the same period, while Australian visitors increased by over 35 per cent, according to the HKTB. Hong Kong held major cultural events in May, such as the iconic Cheung Chau Bun Festival, the French May Arts Festival, and a special Picasso art exhibition at the M+ museum, as well as meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) events, the HKTB said. The Picasso exhibition, the opening programme of the French May festival, will run until July 13. During the Golden Week holiday, which ran from May 1 to 5, Hong Kong welcomed about 1.1 million visitors – a 22 per cent increase from last year, said Chief Executive John Lee. Hong Kong faces an uphill battle to lure tourists to the city after the city lifted all anti-pandemic travel curbs in early 2023. The provisional arrival figure for May this year still lagged behind that of May 2019, when nearly six million people travelled to the city. During his budget speech in February, financial chief Paul Chan said that the government would allocate over HK$1.23 billion to the HKTB to attract 'high-end visitors' from the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
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