The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced today (Jan. 15) that the preliminary figure for visitor arrivals to HK for the entire year of 2024 reaches nearly 45 million, registering a 31% increase compared to 2023. Notably, visitor arrivals in December of last year reached 4.26 million, which marks an 8% year-on-year growth.
Southeast Asia and long-haul markets show strong growth
The mainland remains the largest source market for HK visitors with 34 million arrivals, exhibiting an increase of 27% by year. It also accounts for about three-quarters of HK's annual visitor volume. The Chinese New Year, May Day, and National Day golden week witness large visitor numbers.
Non-mainland visitor arrivals to HK hit 10.5 million last year, up 44% from 2023. With increasing air capacity, non-mainland visitor volume surpassed 1 million for two consecutive months in November and December 2024. Southeast Asia shines in the short-haul travel market, with the Philippines standing out, recording nearly 1.2 million visitor arrivals for the full year, which is a record-high number. The number of visitors from Indonesia and Malaysia saw year-on-year growth of 43% and 50%, respectively, while the Indian market recorded an impressive 70% increase.
Long-haul markets, including the US, Canada, Australia, and Europe, have witnessed a 50% year-on-year increase in visitor arrivals to HK as air capacity gradually recovers. Notably, Canada and Australia performed particularly well in the fourth quarter.
Half of visitors stay overnight with high satisfaction rates
Overnight visitors accounted for 50% of total arrivals in 2024, with an average stay of 3.2 nights. According to HKTB's survey, overnight visitors rated their satisfaction with their HK experience at 8.8 out of 10. Additionally, 94% expressed a willingness to revisit the city and recommend it to others, reflecting improved satisfaction levels compared to 2023.
Mr. Dane Cheng, the executive director of HKTB, highlighted that with the support of central government initiatives and the release of the "Development Blueprint for Hong Kong's Tourism Industry 2.0", the city is poised to strengthen its global appeal.
He also said that the HKTB will fully enhance its promotional efforts towards target markets in the coming year. At the same time, through diversified tourism products and experiences, HKTB aims to attract visitors from around the world to travel to HK and become frequent guests.
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