Hong Kong is preparing to welcome a significant influx of mainland Chinese tourists during the Lunar New Year holiday season. The city is set to host a series of festive celebrations, including fireworks, which are expected to attract more than 1 million visitors from mainland China. This surge in tourism marks a substantial recovery, reaching approximately 80 to 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
Fanny Yeung Shuk-fan, the executive director of the Travel Industry Council, anticipates that between February 10 and 17, around 1.2 million mainland Chinese tourists will visit Hong Kong. Each day, an estimated 130 tour groups are expected, with the possibility of same-day tour parties further increasing the total number of visitors to 190.
Yeung expressed satisfaction with the projected inbound numbers, stating that visitors are aware of the night parade on the first day, the fireworks on the second day, and the special arrangements made by the government for border facilities.
According to the Immigration Department, Hongkongers and tourists are expected to make approximately 7.5 million trips starting from Lunar New Year's Eve. Of these trips, 6 million will be made through the city's land boundary control points with mainland China. The fourth day of the new year, February 13, is predicted to be the busiest, with an estimated 607,000 trips in and out of the city.
In anticipation of the surge in visitors, the Hong Kong hotel industry is gearing up for increased business. Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, reported that hotel bookings for the weekend from February 9 to 11 are "ideal," with an expected occupancy rate of around 90 percent. While the majority of visitors will be from mainland China, levels have not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
The Lunar New Year parade will take place in Tsim Sha Tsui, and a fireworks show, the first in four years, is scheduled for 8pm on Sunday at Victoria Harbour. To ensure the smooth flow of the celebrations, road closures and crowd control measures will be implemented, and border crossings will have extended opening hours. The Shenzhen Bay checkpoint will be open 24 hours a day from Lunar New Year's Eve to February 13.
While the number of visitors to Hong Kong has been gradually increasing, Professor Terence Chong Tai-leung, executive director of Chinese University's Lau Chor Tak Institute of Global Economics and Finance, believes there is still room for further growth. In 2023, only 34 million people visited Hong Kong, compared to 65 million in 2018. Chong expects more tourists to visit this year, and the restaurant business has already experienced a 7 percent growth, indicating positive gains from tourism.
Despite some challenges, such as reduced flight options and the temporary suspension of group tour reservations by the high-speed rail operator, demand for outbound tours from Hong Kong remains strong. Popular destinations for Hong Kong travelers include Japan, mainland China, Thailand, Taiwan, and South Korea.
Overall, Hong Kong is preparing for a vibrant Lunar New Year celebration, with more than 1 million mainland Chinese tourists expected to visit the city. This influx of visitors is a positive sign of recovery for Hong Kong's tourism industry and will contribute to the economic growth of the city.
香港農曆新年期間預計將有超過100萬中國內地遊客
香港預計在農曆新年期間迎接逾一百萬名中國內地遊客。這座城市將舉辦一系列節日慶祝活動，包括煙花表演，吸引了大量中國內地的遊客。這個旅遊潮代表著旅遊業的顯著恢復，達到了約80至85％的疫情前水平。
旅遊業議會執行總監楊淑芬表示，預計在2月10日至17日期間，約有120萬中國內地遊客訪問香港。每天預計會有約130個旅遊團，同日旅遊團的參加可能進一步增加總遊客數量達到190人。
楊女士對預計的入境人數感到滿意，並表示遊客知道首日的夜間遊行、次日的煙花表演以及政府為邊境設施所做的特別安排。
根據入境事務處的數據，香港居民和遊客預計在農曆新年除夕至2月17日期間進行約750萬次旅行。其中有600萬次旅行將通過香港與中國內地的陸地邊境管制站進行。新年的第四天，即2月13日，預計是最繁忙的一天，預計進出城市的旅行數量將達到60.7萬次。
為應對遊客潮，香港酒店業正在積極準備迎接業務增長。香港旅遊協會執行總監徐挺邦表示，2月9日至11日期間的酒店預訂情況「理想」，預計入住率將達到約90％。雖然大部分遊客來自中國內地，但入住率尚未完全恢復到疫情前的水平。
在農曆新年期間，將在尖沙咀舉行新年遊行，而煙花表演也將在星期日晚上8點在維多利亞港舉行，這是四年來的首次。為確保慶祝活動順利進行，將實施道路封鎖和人群控制措施，邊境口岸也將延長開放時間。連接香港西部地區和深圳的深圳灣口岸將在農曆新年除夕至2月13日全天開放。
儘管面臨一些挑戰，例如航班選擇減少和高鐵運營商暫停接受團體旅遊預訂，但香港出境旅遊的需求仍然強勁。香港旅行社Klook表示，從香港出發的旅客的熱門目的地包括日本、中國內地、泰國、台灣和南韓。
總的來說，香港正在為豐富多彩的農曆新年慶祝香港預計喺農曆新年假期期間會迎接逾一百萬名中國內地遊客。呢個城市將舉行一連串嘅節慶活動，包括煙花表演，預計會吸引大量中國內地嘅遊客。呢次旅遊潮標誌住旅遊業嘅顯著復甦，達到疫情前嘅約80至85%水平。
旅遊業協會執行總監楊淑芬預測喺2月10日至17日期間，約會有120萬名中國內地遊客造訪香港。每日預計會有約130個旅遊團，而即場團可能會進一步增加遊客總數至190人。
楊女士對預期嘅入境人數感到滿意，佢表示遊客知道喺新年頭一日有夜間遊行，而第二日有煙花表演，政府亦為邊境設施做咗特別安排。
根據入境事務處嘅資料，預計喺2月9日農曆新年除夕至2月17日期間，香港居民同遊客總共會進行約750萬次旅行。其中有600萬次旅行會經由香港同中國內地嘅陸地邊境管制站進行。新年嘅第四日，即2月13日，預計會係最繁忙嘅一日，預期進出城市嘅旅行次數會達到60.7萬次。
為迎接遊客潮，香港酒店業正積極準備迎接增加嘅生意。香港旅遊協會執行董事徐挺邦表示，2月9日至11日期間嘅酒店訂房情況「理想」，預計入住率會達到約90%。雖然大部分遊客嚟自中國內地，但入住率仲未完全恢復到疫情前嘅水平。
喺農曆新年期間，尖沙咀會舉行新年遊行，而四年一度嘅煙花表演則喺星期日晚上8點於維多利亞港舉行。為確保慶祝活動順利進行，將會實施道路封鎖同人群控制措施，而邊境口岸亦會延長開放時間。連接香港同深圳嘅深圳灣口岸將喺農曆新年除夕至2月13日全日開放。
雖然面對一啲挑戰，例如航班選擇減少同高鐵運營商暫停接受團體旅遊訂單，但香港出境旅遊需求依然強勁。香港旅行社Klook表示，香港旅客嘅熱門目的地包括日本、中國內地、泰國、台灣同南
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