Mainland Chinese ‘golden week’ tourists loosen purse strings in Hong Kong

Mainland Chinese tourists are loosening their purse strings as they flock to Hong Kong on the first day of their National Day holiday, with many opting to stay for a few days to enjoy the fireworks, outdoor attractions and urban vibes.

Hong Kong’s authorities have estimated that as many as 1.54 million mainland visitors, including 1,200 tour groups, would come over the eight-day “golden week” holiday, which coincides with National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The estimate marked an increase of 11 per cent over last year.

As of 10am on Wednesday, the city had recorded a total of 186,724 passenger trips, of which more than 100,000 were inbound.

Mainland tourists accounted for more than 60 per cent of the 100,753 inbound trips, while nearly a third were made by Hongkongers.

There is a wide range of events and offerings to stimulate spending over golden week, including the National Day fireworks on Wednesday night, discounts of up to 30 per cent at restaurants, and perks covering public transport, museums, dining and shopping.