Despite a large exodus of local residents, Hong Kong's hotels and tourist-area restaurants reported robust business during the Lunar New Year holiday from February 13 to 18. Immigration Department figures show 2.5 million outbound journeys by locals, compared to 1 million tourist arrivals. Visitor numbers rose, but the net outflow increased year on year.
Hong Kong’s hotels and tourist-area restaurants have reported robust business during the Lunar New Year holiday, even as an increase in outbound travel by residents underscored the city’s increasingly visitor-driven festival economy.
Figures from the Immigration Department released on Thursday showed locals left the city in droves from February 13 to 18, with residents making 2.5 million journeys out, compared with 1 million tourist arrivals from the mainland and elsewhere. The number of outbound trips by Hongkongers over the six days was about 11 per cent higher than during the corresponding period last year, while the number of incoming trips by visitors rose by 7 per cent.
Despite the rise in visitor arrivals, the city still recorded a significant overall exodus, with the net outflow increasing by about 16 per cent year on year. Mainland arrivals increased, but the net inflow of visitors from over the border fell by about 20 per cent, indicating shorter stays.
An industry leader said the city had also seen more mainland Chinese tourists this year partly because of worsening ties between China and Japan.