Hong Kong’s food and beverage sector recorded a 10 per cent year on year drop in business over the Christmas period, an industry leader said, as 1.2 million trips were made through the city’s borders on the first day of the long holiday.
But the city’s hospitality sector appeared to fare better, with one hotel group saying two of its properties recorded more than 90 per cent occupancy and a slight 5 per cent increase in room tariffs.
Simon Wong Ka-wo, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, told a radio show on Friday that the city’s dining establishments struggled to attract customers because many locals had travelled across the border for the holidays.
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“My estimate would be that there was about a 10 per cent decrease over the Christmas period, but if we look at just December 24 and 25, it’s more than 10 per cent,” Wong said.
“The main reason, I believe, was that residents have started leaving the city since last Friday. With them leaving in droves, of course that’d affect the industry. Another reason is the lowered spending desire and power.”
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He pointed out that it was not just that of Hong Kong residents spending less, but also visitors from mainland China.
He observed that the spending of tourists in Hong Kong during Christmas was lower by 20 per cent compared with before the pandemic.