Hong Kong recorded 714,765 mainland Chinese visitors in the first three days of the Labour Day 'golden week' holiday from May 1 to 3, up 4.8% from last year. Total arrivals reached 854,929, slightly higher than 803,612 last year, though industry players noted uneven spending despite potential 90% hotel occupancy.
Immigration Department data showed mainland Chinese made 714,765 visits to Hong Kong between May 1 and 3, up about 4.8 per cent from 682,114 in the same period last year. Total visitor arrivals, including overseas travellers, reached 854,929 over the three days, slightly up from last year’s 803,612.
The data also showed strong outbound travel by Hong Kong residents, with more than 1 million departures recorded over the first three days of the holiday, 3.3 per cent lower year on year.
Early feedback from the catering sector suggested the increase in footfall had not translated evenly into spending, particularly at upscale restaurants. “Overall there is growth compared with last year, but each segment is different,” Samme Cheng Pak-man, vice-chairman of the Institute of Dining Professionals, said.
Industry players warned that uneven spending and more flexible travel patterns could weigh on business despite hotel occupancy rates potentially reaching 90 per cent.
