Hong Kong welcomed 4.07 million visitors in August, up 14 per cent from the previous month, according to provisional data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB). However, the figure remained below average pre-pandemic levels.
In August 2018, the city saw nearly 6 million visitors. And even during the height of the pro-democracy protests and unrest in August 2019, the city welcomed 3.59 million arrivals.
In all, 20 million people visited Hong Kong in the first eight months of this year, representing 84 per cent of the pre-pandemic level – calculated as the average figure of the same months in 2017-2019.
| Origin of arrivals | July 2023 | August 2023 | January to August |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mainland | 2,975,846 | 3,434,202 | 16,520,798 |
| Non-mainland short-haul | 306,477 | 312,810 | 1,971,142 |
| Non-mainland long-haul | 163,649 | 165,026 | 1,056,013 |
| Non-mainland New markets | 28,623 | 30,111 | 184,178 |
| Total | 3,588,530 | 4,077,746 | 20,550,155 |
Of August’s 4.1 million visitors, 3.4 million – or 84 per cent – were from mainland China.
Currency, airlines, economy blamed
In its press release on Tuesday, the HKTB said the recovery of the city’s tourism industry was steady, but blamed “currency exchange rates, airline capacity and the global economic outlook” as factors affecting the pace of the tourism reboot.
The tourism industry was hit hard during Covid-19, as the city enforced strict rules requiring visitors to quarantine in hotels at their own expense and undergo multiple Covid tests upon arrival. The city maintained stringent measures even as countries around the world relaxed their protocols.
The city only lifted its hotel quarantine requirement last September and allowed unvaccinated non-residents to enter in February. Experts have warned that the tourism sector faces a long road to recovery.
Tourism reboot
On Tuesday, the HKTB added that it “will organise a series of flagship events in the coming months, including mega events held in the evenings, including the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, Hong Kong WinterFest and Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations to create a city-wide festive ambience and entice participation of both visitors and the public.”
In February, authorities unveiled a “Hello Hong Kong” campaign to attract visitors, partnering with local airlines to give away plane tickets to the city. The aviation industry, however, has warned that a shortage of staff – with many employees changing careers during Covid-19 – was stalling the industry’s recovery.
Last month, Dane Cheng – executive director of the HKTB – said that, based on HKTB surveys, the consumption habits of mainland Chinese tourists had changed, with fewer “coming to Hong Kong primarily for shopping,” and more interested in arts and cultural activities, especially young people.
Mainland China’s post-pandemic economic recovery has also been weaker than expected, with July’s consumer price index falling 0.3 per cent year on year as the world’s second largest economy slipped into deflation.
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