John Lee pledges to make HK 'preferred travel destination'

Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu has vowed to deploy innovative thinking to turn the city to a "preferred travel destination", after the city recorded a 12% YOY increase in visitor arrivals during the first half of the year.

According to the latest figures by The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Hong Kong recorded 3.48 million visitor arrivals in June, increasing by about 11% from the same period last year. Cumulatively, Hong Kong received about 24 million visitors in the first half of the year, representing a year-on-year increase of 12%.

The figures show that visitor arrivals grew steadily in the first half of the year, with about 17.8 million visitors having arrived from the Mainland, marking a year-on-year increase of 10%. Mainland visitors accounted for about 75% of the total visitor arrivals.

Meanwhile, about 5.84 million visitors came from the rest of the world, reflecting an increase of 17% over the same period last year. Visitors from most short-haul markets, including Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, increased by at least 25% year-on-year. Among long-haul markets, Australia recorded a notable growth of 33% year-on-year.

In response, Hong Kong leader John Lee said on a Facebook post on 26 July that the rise of tourists in the city was due to a series of arts, cultural and sports mega-events. He also attributed the boom to the opening of Kai Tak Sports Park, the city’s latest venue for mega concerts and international sporting events.

"Attaining such impressive outcomes despite intense competition from neighboring regions is a significant achievement, highlighting Hong Kong’s unique blend of ‘East-meets-West’ tourism and its rising appeal on the global stage," Lee said.

Lee also welcomed opinions from all sectors on how to further develop local tourism, adding that the authorities would keep an eye out on the pulse of the market and adopt more “innovative thinking" to turn Hong Kong to a preferred tourist destination”.

"We will continue to develop tourist attractions and host large-scale events, providing diverse daily activities to draw visitors from around the globe to Hong Kong," he said.

Don't miss: Filipinos lead Southeast Asian travel boom to Hong Kong with 1.2m visits in 2024

Last year, Hong Kong welcomed 44.5 million arrivals in 2024, with over half of these visitors coming from mainland China. The city's continued focus on enhancing its tourism offerings and easing travel accessibility has cemented its status as a prime destination for global travellers.

Southeast Asia has become Hong Kong's fastest-recovering visitor source market. In 2024, arrivals from the region rebounded to 95% of pre-pandemic levels, showcasing a strong resurgence in travel demand.

Among the notable moments in this growth was the arrival of Hong Kong's one-millionth Filipino visitor in November 2024. Miguel Linao, travelling with his wife Ana and their three children, shared his family's deep appreciation for the city's diverse offerings.

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