Hong Kong mainland visitor numbers unlikely to ‘reach pre-pandemic levels in next 2 years’

The number of mainland Chinese visitors coming to Hong Kong is unlikely to recover to pre-pandemic levels in the next two years despite a rising trend of tour groups and individuals travelling to the city, according to a trade body.

Travel Industry Council executive director Fanny Yeung Suk-fan said on Sunday that 1.15 million to 1.2 million mainland visitors were expected in Hong Kong during the National Day “golden week” holiday from October 1 to October 7, a 20 per cent rise compared with last year but only about 75 per cent of the 2018 figure.

“We believe that in the next two years, we may not be able to reach [pre-pandemic mainland visitor numbers]. The main thing is the global economy has worsened,” Yeung told a television show.

“The mainland’s economy has worsened, too. People will definitely spend less on travel. Another thing we see is that the pattern of mainland tourists has changed. Previously, they mainly came to shop, but that’s no longer the case.”

In the first eight months this year, Hong Kong welcomed 23 million mainland visitors, a year-on-year increase of about 39 per cent.