Hong Kong set for Lunar New Year tourism bump with 6% rise in mainland visitors

Hong Kong’s tourism sector is bracing for a 6 per cent rise in mainland Chinese visitors during the Lunar New Year holiday, as travel to the city regains momentum. Tickets for high-speed trains from major mainland cities to Hong Kong have been selling fast in the days leading up to the festive period – an upbeat sign for some hoteliers expecting a full house during the holiday. The Travel Industry Council, a federation of local travel trade associations, estimated that up to 1.4 million mainland visitors would set foot in the city during the holiday – a 6 per cent rise compared with Lunar New Year last year. Fanny Yeung Shuk-fun, the council’s executive director, also estimated the city would be receiving some 2,600 mainland tour groups during the holiday, representing a 5 per cent increase from last year. “Mega-events and activities are the key reasons for the positive arrivals,” Yeung said, citing the recent opening of the cinematic exhibition at the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station as one of the attractions drawing mainland visitors. The holiday on the mainland will run from February 15 to 23, spanning nine days from the 28th day of the 12th lunar month to the seventh day of the new Year of the Horse. High-speed train tickets to Hong Kong, which can be booked online 15 days in advance, have been selling fast. By Monday evening, tickets for direct trains on February 15 from some major mainland cities, such as Guiyang, Hangzhou and Nanjing, had been snapped up. And tickets for four of the five direct train services from Wuhan on February 15 were also sold out. For Beijing and Shanghai visitors, only second-class tickets were still available. Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, said the city remained a top choice among mainland visitors. “Hong Kong’s charm is back. Our reputation among many mainland visitors is very good, especially those in the Greater Bay Area,” Chui said. “Coupled with a series of festival events such as the fireworks and Lunar New Year night parade, many mainland travellers will choose us as their preferred destination for Lunar New Year. “We have seen a wave of [hotel] bookings after the fireworks display this year was confirmed. Many of the mid-priced hotels have already reported an occupancy rate of about 70 to 80 per cent for the holiday period. They will probably have a full house by then.” Caspar Tsui Ying-wai, executive director of the Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners, shared Chui’s optimism, saying the sector was expecting a more than 90 per cent occupancy rate during the Lunar New Year holiday. He also believed geopolitical tensions elsewhere could push some travellers to choose to spend their holiday in Hong Kong. “Hong Kong is safe and has a good variety of events and offerings for Lunar New Year,” he said. Simon Wong Ka-wo, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, said he expected a 5 per cent increase in business during the holiday season given the fireworks display. “Restaurants on both banks of the Victoria Harbour have received many reservations,” Wong said. But he added that many residents would choose to go abroad or “go north” across the border to Shenzhen and elsewhere on the mainland during this period. Freeman Cheung Kim-ping, vice-president of the Hong Kong Guangdong Boundary Crossing Bus Association, said he noted the “positive sentiment” recently, saying operators were preparing more coaches to meet demand. “Buses are mostly for short trips, such as going to the Shenzhen Bay Port or Tsim Sha Tsui without having to walk to the high-speed rail terminal to take the train. For these visitors, they will usually take a direct bus. We offer another choice,” Cheung said.