Hong Kong is experiencing a notable resurgence in tourism, with Financial Secretary Paul Chan reporting a significant increase in both mainland Chinese and overseas visitors for the first five months of 2025. The city welcomed an estimated 20 million tourists between January and May, of which approximately 75 per cent originated from mainland China—a 10 per cent year-on-year rise. Overseas arrivals climbed by 18 per cent over the same period.
Writing in his official blog on Sunday, Chan attributed the growth to Hong Kong’s dynamic events calendar, featuring a diverse range of high-profile concerts, sporting tournaments and cultural exhibitions. These activities, he noted, have played a critical role in revitalising the city’s tourism sector following years of economic uncertainty fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Events held in the first half of 2025 are projected to draw around 840,000 visitors and generate HK$3.3 billion (approximately US$420 million) in spending, with a corresponding economic contribution of HK$1.5 billion. Chan emphasised the widespread enthusiasm among fans eager to see international and regional stars perform live, describing recent months as a period of exceptional vibrancy for the city.
Kai Tak Sports Park has been at the centre of this cultural revival, playing host to an array of globally recognised artists. British rock band Coldplay, Cantopop icon Nicholas Tse, Taiwanese group Mayday, and Singaporean singer JJ Lin have all recently performed to sold-out crowds. The venue is expected to continue drawing significant audiences in the coming months with a packed schedule of concerts and sports matches.
Other flagship events, such as the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament and a football exhibition match featuring Manchester United, have further enhanced the city’s appeal among local and international sports fans.
Beyond entertainment, the city’s cultural calendar has also contributed to this tourism uplift. March saw the return of Art Basel Hong Kong, a key date in the global art world, while April welcomed the launch of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival. These events, Chan said, attracted visitors from across the Greater Bay Area, home to over 80 million people, as well as from mainland China and across Asia.
Looking ahead, Hong Kong plans to maintain its momentum with a robust line-up of international events scheduled throughout the second half of 2025. Chan expressed confidence that the combination of world-class programming, new attractions, and the city’s unique blend of urban and natural experiences would continue to drive tourism growth.
To further support these efforts, the Hong Kong government has earmarked more than HK$1.2 billion in its current budget to strengthen tourism marketing. The initiative is aimed particularly at attracting affluent travellers from Southeast Asia and the Middle East, with an emphasis on religious and cultural inclusivity, including the availability of halal food and access to religious sites.
However, the evolving expectations and behaviours of mainland Chinese tourists remain a challenge for local businesses, which continue to adapt in order to capture this key demographic more effectively.
In a separate development, Chinese lifestyle platform Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, has established its first office outside mainland China, choosing Hong Kong as its inaugural overseas location. The move is seen as a strategic step in expanding cross-border services for brands and users, according to the Hong Kong government.
Speaking at the office’s opening ceremony on Saturday, Chan underlined the platform’s strategic value to Hong Kong. Xiaohongshu currently boasts over 300 million monthly active users, including roughly 2 million in Hong Kong. The app’s influence has already been felt locally, with increased traffic to restaurants and retail outlets featured in user-generated content.
Chan acknowledged, however, that user complaints about service standards—particularly in the food and transport sectors—have at times damaged the city’s image. He suggested that by leveraging Hong Kong’s status as an international financial hub, Xiaohongshu could both expand its global footprint and support the promotion of Chinese culture and products to a wider audience.
Chan concluded by affirming the government’s commitment to deepening collaboration with Xiaohongshu, with a view to enhancing the visitor experience and increasing international visibility for Hong Kong’s tourism, retail, and creative industries.
-CNA
