The "Golden Week" holiday has officially begun, with many mainland tourists arriving in Hong Kong ahead of the rush to avoid boundary congestion. HK's hospitality and tourism industries are fully prepared to welcome visitors. Representatives from the dining, hotel, bar, and tourism sectors shared with HK Wen Wei Po that they are employing various strategies to attract customers. These include reinforcing HK's traditional cultural strengths, innovating service models, and utilizing social media platforms. The industry anticipates a 5-15% increase in business compared to the same period last year.
A notable example is a traditional dim sum restaurant that gained popularity on the mainland social media platform Xiaohongshu for its nostalgic dim sum carts, drawing in numerous customers. The restaurant estimates a 10% increase in business during Golden Week. Meanwhile, hotels are catering to the growing demand for in-depth travel experiences by offering city walking guides to help tourists explore local landmarks.
Positive outlook for food and beverage sector
Legislative Council member for the catering sector, Cheung Yu-yan, expressed optimism about the business outlook for Golden Week. He highlighted that the combination of a large influx of mainland visitors and local residents choosing to stay in HK after the Easter holidays is boosting consumer spending. Cheung also noted that using social media platforms like Xiaohongshu to promote HK as a food paradise has proven highly effective. However, he acknowledged that rising costs of ingredients and labor will likely result in slight price increases in the dining sector.
Dim sum carts continue to attract mainland tourists
Mr. So, Deputy General Manager of London Restaurant, shared how the restaurant has successfully maintained its appeal to younger mainland tourists by preserving its unique traditional tea house features. The venue's dim sum carts are particularly popular among visitors, and the restaurant has even added evening dim sum service to meet demand. Staff members are also happy to assist tourists in capturing Instagram-worthy moments. The restaurant expects its morning tea sessions to be fully booked during Golden Week, with overall daily traffic projected to rise by 10%.
Themed hotel rooms boost family travel
The hotel industry has introduced creative services to attract travelers. Mr. Cheung, Director of HKCTS Hotels, revealed that their hotels have launched panda-themed rooms to capitalize on the "panda craze." Other hotels have refurbished rooms with various cartoon themes to appeal to families and children. These offerings often include themed dining packages.
Cheung noted that hotel occupancy rates during the first three days of Golden Week have surpassed 90% for most four-star hotels, with some even fully booked. Occupancy rates for the fourth and fifth days are also expected to reach nearly 90%. Overall, the hotel industry forecasts a 2-3% increase in revenue compared to last year. To meet service demand, hotels are hiring temporary staff, increasing manpower by about 10%.
Mr. Tsui, Executive Director of the Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners, anticipates a strong performance for hotels this Golden Week. Many hotels in Wan Chai, for instance, are offering "city walking guides" to connect tourists with cultural landmarks, broadening their travel options and enhancing their experience.
Bars see structural growth with mainland tourism
The bar industry is also experiencing structural growth. Hong Kong Bar & Club Association Chairman Mr. Chin noted that the proportion of mainland customers has risen from 5% to 15% over the past three years. He expects bar revenue in popular districts like Central and Tsim Sha Tsui to increase by 5-10% during Golden Week. Many young mainland tourists prefer bars with a strong reputation, and award-winning cocktail bars in the Asia-Pacific region have seen large crowds.
Diverse tourism products to meet visitor needs
Mr. Lo, Chairman of the Hong Kong Travel Profession Union, reported a growing trend in themed inbound tours, including those focused on insurance purchases, medical aesthetics, and local education opportunities. Inbound tour bookings are expected to increase by 10-15% year-on-year during Golden Week, with 55% being same-day return trips. Approximately 20% of these tours now feature the newly opened Kai Tak Sports Park as a key attraction.
Mr. Tse, Chairman of the Hong Kong Inbound Tour Operators Association, suggested that there is still significant potential to attract first-time visitors from mainland cities such as Chengdu, Shanghai, and Beijing. He called on the HKSAR government to support further promotional efforts in these regions to boost overnight stays.
Insurance industry benefits from Golden Week
HK's insurance products remain popular among mainland tourists. AIA HK spokesperson said the company is well-prepared for Golden Week, offering special product promotions, shopping mall events, themed seminars for select clients, and gift campaigns to enhance the visitor experience.
(Source: Wen Wei Po)
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