HK eyes 1.85m visitors with 100+ second-half mega events

Hong Kong expects to welcome over 1.85 million visitors for the remainder of the year as it hosts more than 100 mega events, according to the city's financial secretary Paul Chan Mo-po.

Writing in his weekly blog on Sunday, Chan highlighted the strong momentum built during the first half of the year, when approximately 1.75 million tourists attended over 130 major events. Those visitors generated roughly HK$5.8 billion in spending and contributed HK$3.3 billion in direct economic value. The city's retail sector has also posted 14 consecutive months of growth, registering a 9.6% year-on-year increase in the first half.

Chan cited the Hong Kong Football Festival 2026 and the Audi Football Summit 2026 at Kai Tak Sports Park as key examples of event-driven economic spillover. Across three matches, the events attracted more than 120,000 spectators, with total ticket revenues projected to top HK$180 million. Nearby restaurants reported a 20 percent boost in business, bolstered by merchant initiatives such as ticket-stub promotions, dining discounts, and complimentary parking.

Looking ahead, the city's second-half lineup includes the Food Expo, the National Day fireworks display, the Hong Kong Cyclothon, and the Wine & Dine Festival. These upcoming events are projected to generate HK$5.9 billion in spending and add another HK$3.3 billion in economic value.

One of the key highlights is October's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers' Meeting, hosted in Hong Kong for the first time. Chan noted that the government plans to leverage the presence of regional political and business leaders to showcase the city as both a premier international financial center and a vibrant cultural and lifestyle destination.

Chan also highlighted the success of the "Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums" exhibition at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, which has drawn over 570,000 visitors since launching late last year. The exhibition has spawned around 200 related cultural and creative products, generating more than HK$30 million in merchandise sales.

Driven by strong venue rentals and cultural retail performance, the combined revenue of the Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+ museum surged 22% year-on-year for the last financial year. Pointing to tourists' strong appetite for unique souvenirs, Chan noted that turning exhibit-inspired creativity into commercial products offers a proven formula for unlocking economic value.

The mega-event strategy aligns with the Hong Kong Tourism Board's (HKTB) "Hong Kong Mega 8" initiative, which brings together eight flagship international events across art, pop culture, and sports alongside citywide activations.

Designed to reinforce Hong Kong's position as the "events capital of Asia," the campaign extends cultural programming directly into local neighborhoods. Among its upcoming features, Art Basel Hong Kong will present the Asian debut of its "Zero 10" digital art initiative—originally launched at Art Basel Miami Beach—showcasing code-based creations, light, and sound installations across the city.

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