Hong Kong retailers and restaurant operators expect a business boost from the National Games, with one shopping centre near competition venues already reporting a roughly 20 per cent increase in weekday footfall helped by early sporting events.
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Malls across the city also plan to capitalise on the Games, which officially open on Sunday and run until November 21, with some set to live-stream competitions to allow residents to watch and cheer on the athletes.
Hong Kong is co-hosting the Games with Guangdong and Macau and will put on eight events. The competition is the country’s highest-level and largest multi-sports event and is held every four years, with Hong Kong authorities hoping the Games will bring around 100,000 visitors to the city.
Fencing, track cycling, rugby sevens, golf, triathlon, beach volleyball, men’s handball and the under-22 men’s basketball will all take place in the city.
“With a larger flow of people, it will definitely help our business, so I predict that business for the food and beverage sector will increase by about 10 per cent year on year during the National Games period,” said Simon Wong Ka-wo, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades.
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Wong said the Games would not only draw tourists to the city to watch different competitions, but residents would also be encouraged to go out and spend.