Chinese New Year boosts Hong Kong’s visitor figures for January-February 2026

The Hong Kong Tourism Board released visitor figures for the first two months of 2026, with mainland Chinese tourists accounting for 79.3 per cent of total arrivals. February saw 5.14 million arrivals, a 40 per cent year-on-year increase, attributed to the Chinese New Year holiday.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board released figures for visitor arrivals in January and February 2026. Mainland Chinese visitors accounted for 79.3 per cent of the total arrivals recorded over the first two months of this year. The total number of arrivals for February alone stood at 5.14 million, a 40 per cent increase from the previous year, with the Tourism Board attributing the rise to the mainland’s longer Chinese New Year holiday period and various mega-events hosted across the city. In terms of mainland arrivals that month, the figure represented a 53 per cent increase from February 2025. Last year’s Chinese New Year took place in January. A breakdown of the latest figures showed that visitor arrivals from non-mainland markets reached 2.06 million in the first two months of 2026, an 8 per cent year-on-year increase. “With notable results from long-haul markets, the number of visitors from Australia, France and Germany grew by 20 to 30 per cent year on year,” the board said.

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Minister of Culture and Tourism Sun Yeli stated at a news conference on people's livelihood during the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress that China is ramping up efforts to promote the integration of culture and tourism, sharing its landscapes, culture, history, and modern life with global visitors. In 2025, inbound tourist trips exceeded 150 million, up more than 17 percent year-on-year, while spending surpassed $130 billion, an increase of over 40 percent. Authorities will continue improving the full inbound tourism chain to make travel to China easier.

Macau recorded a record 1.55 million visitor arrivals over nine days of the 2026 Chinese New Year holiday, surpassing government forecasts. The surge, averaging nearly 172,700 visitors daily, was facilitated by key entry points including the Border Gate, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, and Hengqin checkpoint. This marked a significant increase from the previous year's 1.31 million arrivals, highlighting the city's appeal during the festive period.

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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.

South Korea is poised to surpass Japan as the top destination for Chinese travelers during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, marking the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Booking estimates indicate 230,000 to 250,000 mainland Chinese visitors to South Korea, a potential increase of up to 52% from last year. This shift highlights Seoul's visa relaxations amid tensions with Tokyo.

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The number of Chinese tourists to Japan grew by just 3.0% year-on-year in November, a sharp drop from October's 22.8% increase. The Japan National Tourism Organization's data suggests deteriorating Japan-China relations played a role in this slowdown. Meanwhile, total inbound visitors from January to November hit 39,065,600, surpassing the 2024 annual record of 36,870,148.

Amid a sudden deterioration in Sino-Japanese relations, Chinese tourists originally planning to visit Japan instead opted for Korea during the Lunar New Year holiday. The nine-day period, from February 15 to Monday, filled hotels in Korea and provided relief to its sluggish domestic economy. A 22-year-old from Sichuan province, Tang, said his family decided to stay in Seoul after being unable to refund tickets for onward travel to Japan.

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Hong Kong International Airport recorded 61 million passenger trips in 2025, a 15% increase year on year, following a full year of operations with its third runway. The Airport Authority attributed the strong performance to a busy Christmas season, with cargo throughput also rising 2.7%.

 

 

 

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