According to information obtained, Hong Kong's Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Lo Shuk-pui, stated today (July 8) in response to a legislator's inquiry that visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in the first half of 2026 reached approximately 26.71 million, representing a 13% increase compared to the same period last year. This figure includes a 16% rise in visitors from Mainland China and a 5% increase in non-Mainland visitors.
Lo Shuk-pui indicated that to further amplify the benefits of major events, the Hong Kong Tourism Board will leverage large-scale events scheduled for August 2026, such as the Hong Kong Football Extravaganza 2026 and the musical "CATS," to proactively collaborate with merchants across different districts to launch a new round of ticket stub promotions. Furthermore, the flagship event, the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, will be upgraded to a month-long "Wine & Dine Month" throughout November, aiming to encourage visitors to extend their stay in Hong Kong.
The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau will continue its efforts to attract major cultural, sports, and tourism events to Hong Kong. For instance, the authorities have successfully secured the inaugural hosting of the 2027 HYROX World Championships in Hong Kong.
Key Driver for Tourism and Economy
Lo Shuk-pui pointed out that major events serve as a crucial engine for driving Hong Kong's tourism and economic development. On one hand, these events directly attract visitors, stimulating consumption in sectors like hotels, dining, and retail. On the other hand, they create employment opportunities in industries such as transportation, logistics, and event production.
The economic benefits of the event economy should not be measured solely by whether visitors stay overnight. Even for same-day visitors, substantial consumption is generated in areas like transportation, dining, and experiential activities, contributing to the development of the entire industry chain.
In this context, the Kai Tak Sports Park, since its opening last year, has provided a key breakthrough for the "mega events + tourism" strategy. The main stadium at Kai Tak has hosted over 60 major sports events and concerts to date, attracting more than 2.4 million spectators. This has effectively driven consumption and employment in surrounding areas, injecting tangible momentum into the local economy.
The sustained increase in visitor arrivals to Hong Kong largely reflects the success of the "mega events + tourism" strategy.
Shifts in Visitor Spending Patterns
She noted that in terms of consumption, visitor spending patterns are undergoing a structural shift, moving away from a primary focus on shopping towards a greater emphasis on cultural and experiential activities.
The per capita spending of overnight visitors increased slightly from HK$5,490 in 2024 to HK$5,503 in 2025, and is projected to rise further to around HK$5,530 in 2026.
For same-day visitors, per capita spending adjusted from HK$1,235 in 2024 to HK$1,139 in 2025, with a similar level expected for 2026.
Although some event attendees do not stay overnight in Hong Kong, they still generate consumption on transportation, dining, and entertainment. Taking Kai Tak Sports Park as an example, each event can create nearly 10,000 temporary positions, with its actual economic contribution far exceeding ticket revenue and visitor spending.
Benefiting from the strong growth in visitor arrivals, total consumption related to inbound tourism in 2025 rose by 13% year-on-year to HK$217.5 billion. It is forecasted to increase by approximately 10% further in 2026 to HK$238.1 billion.
Enhancing Tourism Through the "Mega Events+" Strategy
In response to changing travel patterns, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau is promoting high-quality tourism development through the "mega events+" strategy. This involves upgrading large-scale activities from single events into cross-temporal, cross-district thematic experiences, aiming to extend visitors' length of stay, broaden consumption scenarios, and benefit sectors including dining, retail, hotels, and transportation.
Taking this year's Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament as an example, the three-day event attracted over 113,000 spectators, with more than 30% being non-local visitors. The same week also featured the Hong Kong Tens rugby tournament and the "Racing × Rugby" event at Happy Valley Racecourse, complemented by celebratory activities and dining promotions across the city, stimulating the surrounding economy.
Regarding cultural events, this year's "Art March" connected multiple cultural events spanning the entire month. The Art Basel Hong Kong and Art Central exhibitions collectively attracted approximately 55,000 visitors.
Focus on High-Value Segments
Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism is also a major source of high-value overnight visitors. The Hong Kong government, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, is actively seeking to attract large-scale international conferences and exhibitions to Hong Kong.
For instance, the five-day 108th Lions Clubs International Convention concluded successfully yesterday (July 7). It brought about 17,000 delegates from around the world to Hong Kong, with some accompanied by family members. This drove demand for over ten thousand hotel room nights and stimulated consumption in dining, retail, and related sectors, delivering significant economic benefits.
In May this year, the Hong Kong Tourism Board also signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with the globally leading trade exhibition organizer, Informa Markets. This agreement aims to introduce several international high-end exhibitions, such as those for luxury cars and yachts, to Hong Kong, attracting international high-end business travelers.
Simultaneously, the Hong Kong Tourism Board is actively exploring high-potential, high-value source markets like the Middle East to increase the proportion of overnight visitors.
Exploring New Tourism Opportunities
Lo Shuk-pui stated that Hong Kong possesses unique coastal and island resources, giving it significant advantages for developing island tourism. The government encourages and welcomes interested organizations to develop integrated resort projects by utilizing these natural resources, provided they respect and protect the ecological environment. This would offer visitors novel and diverse tourism experiences.
If any organization proposes a concrete plan, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau is willing to actively explore it and act as a facilitator, coordinating with relevant policy bureaus and departments to remove barriers and jointly promote development.
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