Hong Kong is bracing for at least 800,000 visitors from mainland China and about 5.9 million people crossing border checkpoints during the Labor Day “Golden Week” holiday, the city’s leader said, as a popular tourist area plans a shopping spree festival.
The government’s forecast of mainland tourist numbers and immigration traffic for the five-day holiday saw increases of 28% and 75% respectively on figures for the same period last year.
Temple Street in Hong Kong attracts 1.5 million people and will be open until the end of the year
Temple Street in Hong Kong attracts 1.5 million people and will be open until the end of the year
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday the government had been making “comprehensive preparations” for the Golden Week holiday, which falls from May 1 to 5, by keeping in close contact with transport operators, working with businesses to offer promotions , and ensuring good management of tourist groups.
“We will make good use of this opportunity to show that Hong Kong is a vibrant city. We welcome tourists,” he said.
“Hong Kong will give tourists good experiences that they will not only enjoy, but when they are done, they will tell their friends and neighbors in their hometowns.”
Lee said the government would make further announcements on border checkpoint arrangements closer to the start of the peak holiday period.
“We will be in full gear to ensure there is a good and smooth service for visitors,” he said.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board earlier said a pyrotechnic show would be held at Victoria Harbor on May 1 and a drone show on May 11.
A source familiar with the arrangements for the festivities said a shopping festival will be held in the Yau Tsim Mong district with various retailers and restaurants offering benefits and discounts.
Details of these initiatives are expected as early as Wednesday.
Yau Tsim Mong District Council proposed the festival as a promotional platform for businesses to reach potential customers, said councilor Chris Ip Ngo-tung.
“Hopefully, through the activity or the publicity, there will be more business for stores in the area,” Ip said.
He said the council invited various stakeholders in the area to participate and did not impose any requirements on what they could propose.
“This festival is in addition to the shows that the Tourism Board organizes. We hope there will be a synergy along with the increased number of tourists during the golden week period,” he added.
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Yip said that although the festival coincides with Golden Week, it does not only target mainland customers, but also tourists from other places as well as locals.
The festival may continue beyond the five-day period, he added.
Hong Kong Tourism Association chief executive Timothy Chui Ting-pong said the government’s forecast of mainland arrivals was realistic based on past experience and that visitors would boost the retail, tourism and food and beverage sectors.
“This time is like the flip side of the Easter holidays, when most Hong Kong residents left the city to spend across the border or overseas,” Chui said.
“[Labour Day] it’s not a long holiday in Hong Kong, but there will be an influx of visitors to the city to spend.”
Easter is not a public holiday on the continent.
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Chui said that while prices in Hong Kong are not as low as in Shenzhen, local businesses should work on providing better services and products so that customers feel they are getting value for their money.
Separately, Hong Kong Airport handled 4.36 million passengers and 29,840 flights last month, representing year-on-year increases of 56.7% and 48.2% respectively.
Airport authorities also said all passenger segments saw growth, partly due to the long Easter holiday at the end of March, with traffic to and from Southeast Asia, the mainland and Japan recording the biggest increases.
