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Wynna Wong

Hong Kong will welcome 1.45 million mainland Chinese visitors to the city over the Lunar New Year period, about 15 per cent more than in 2024, helped by mega-events and recently relaxed visa restrictions, a travel industry leader has forecast.
The Travel Industry Council’s new chairman, Tommy Tam Kwong-shun, shared his prediction with the Post earlier this week on the number of mainland travellers set to visit the city from January 28 to February 4.
The number represents an increase of about 15 per cent from the 1.255 million mainland visitors recorded by the Immigration Department during last year’s festivities.
The department is expected to reveal its forecast for the coming Lunar New Year period next week.
“Hong Kong has several mega-events during this time, and the atmosphere will be great,” Tam said.
“In addition, the multiple entry scheme will definitely help; we are seeing a lot of momentum in this regard this time.”
Alongside the Lunar New Year parade on January 29 and fireworks at Victoria Harbour on January 30, the Hong Kong Tourism Board is promoting the Chinese New Year Raceday at Sha Tin Racecourse, a wishing tree festival at Lam Tsuen and the Lunar New Year Cup at Hong Kong Stadium as signature holiday events.
Meanwhile, the West Kowloon Cultural District will hold a Lunar New Year-themed market with six speciality stalls, performances, workshops, exhibitions and other events.
It will host live Chinese music shows, a lion dance and street performances at its harbourside lawn and Art Park on select weekends and public holidays.

The arts hub managed to attract hundreds of thousands of revellers – both locals and from the mainland – during the Christmas period and the New Year countdown.
Tam said the city’s multiple-entry scheme for Shenzhen residents, which relaunched in December after a nine-year halt, had helped to bolster visitor numbers during the Christmas holiday.
He said that since Christmas was not an official holiday across the border, “we expect even more visitors for Lunar New Year”.
Immigration Department figures showed Hong Kong recorded 34 million trips by mainland visitors to the city using all checkpoints in 2024, a 27 per cent increase year on year.
Over the same period, Hong Kong also recorded a 48 per cent year-on-year surge in the number of residents making trips across the border using checkpoints except the airport, reaching more than 93 million.
Tam said that while a number of Hongkongers were heading to the mainland for their holiday shopping this year, he did not expect mainland visitors to flock to the city in return.
“They may come to buy some dried seafood or medicines, but it won’t be like in the past when they spent without a care on luxury handbags or watches … this is something we will just have to get used to,” he said.
But Tam said the projected increase in visitors should serve as encouragement for local businesses as “there will definitely be no profits without customers”.
He also urged restaurants and shops to step up their service quality in anticipation of the influx of travellers.


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‘Hong Kong to welcome 1.45 million mainland tourists over Lunar New Year’

Mainland tourists enjoy a view of Victoria Harbour from the waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Sam Tsang

Passengers arrive at the West Kowloon high-speed rail terminus. Photo: May Tse

Lunar New Year shopping: Hong Kong and Shenzhen battle for dollars and deals

Shoppers check Lunar New Year products at a wholesale market in Shenzhen. Photo: Edmond So

Shoppers at Sam’s Club in Futian, Shenzhen. Photo: Edmond So

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“Elder Sister” (left) and “Younger Brother” have recently started playing and climbing around their enclosure, crawling on grass, climbing up rocks and clawing at trees. Photo: Ocean Park

“Younger Brother” plays with his toys. Photo: Ocean Park

Despite taking an early tumble, “Elder Sister” has learned to enjoy playing on the slide set up by zookeepers. Photo: Ocean Park

News

Hong Kong

Travel Industry Council chairman says he expects 15 per cent rise from last year’s festive period thanks to mega-events, relaxed visa rules


Travel Industry Council chairman says he expects 15 per cent rise from last year’s festive period thanks to mega-events, relaxed visa rules.
