Under the combined effect of the mainland's Labor Day Golden Week and various major events in Hong Kong, preliminary data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) shows that nearly 4.08 million visitor arrivals were recorded last month, a year-on-year increase of 20%. Visitors from Australia, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines saw growth exceeding 25%. With the opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park and a lineup of major international sports events, many mainland and overseas tourists are making special trips to Hong Kong to "snatch" tickets for competitions.
The Volleyball Nations League (VNL) has always been highly popular among global fans, with the Chinese women's volleyball team being a major draw. Fans from around the world have been flaunting their tickets on social media, preparing to come to Hong Kong to cheer for their idols.
Representatives from the tourism and sports sectors told Wen Wei Po that the VNL and next month's visits by multiple Premier League and Serie A football teams for top-tier international matches will elevate the city's image, forming a "sports + tourism" industry chain and providing sustained momentum for hotels and related sectors.
According to the latest data from HKTB, of the 4.08 million visitor arrivals last month, 3.12 million were from the mainland, a year-on-year increase of 19%. In the first five months, total visitor arrivals exceeded 20 million, up 12% year-on-year, with mainland visitors accounting for about 15.2 million, a 10% increase. Other non-mainland markets continued their growth momentum, with about 5 million arrivals in the first five months, an 18% rise. Visitor arrivals from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines surged by over 25% year-on-year, with Australia recording an increase of more than 35%.
Trip.com sees 25% rise in HK event bookings this month
Trip.com Group released data yesterday (June 16) showing that bookings for concert and event tickets or experience activities in Hong Kong this month increased by about 25% year-on-year on its Trip.com platform, reflecting growing demand among locals and tourists for Hong Kong's entertainment events.
The VNL Hong Kong 2025 is a heavyweight sports event. This year, the tournament's venue has moved to the Kai Tak Sports Park's arena for the first time, with 12 matches scheduled over five days. The event has been granted "M" Mark status by the Major Sports Events Committee. Committee chairman and Volleyball Association chairman Wilfred Ng noted that the VNL brings together top global teams, not only promoting volleyball development in Hong Kong but also attracting overseas spectators, boosting local hotels, retail, and catering, and further solidifying Hong Kong's status as a hub for international sports events.
Mainland fans hustling
Even before the event begins, the "ticket rush war" has already started. A Wen Wei Po reporter browsing mainland social platforms like Weibo and Xiaohongshu yesterday found numerous posts of mainland fans "showing off tickets," with supporters from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and elsewhere ready to come to Hong Kong to cheer for the China women's national volleyball team. The HK Ticketing website also showed that most sessions were sold out, with only a few of the most expensive HK$1,800 tickets remaining for the evening sessions (starting at 4:30 PM) on Saturday (June 21) and Sunday (June 22).
Louie Lobo, a senior lecturer at the Department of Health and Physical Education at the Education University of Hong Kong, noted that the national women's volleyball team's outstanding record, with multiple medals in the Olympics and World Cup, has built a huge international fan base. He expects the event to successfully attract supporters from home and abroad to Hong Kong.
Timothy Chui, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, attributed last month's visitor growth largely to the appeal of a series of major events. "I believe the upcoming VNL will draw many tourists, specifically for the matches and overnight stays."
With the summer peak season for events approaching, he also revealed that the local hotel industry is actively reaching out to event organizers to explore bundled travel packages.
To further leverage the pull of major events on tourism, Chui suggested that future events actively develop "ticket + hotel accommodation" package sales. He believes such all-in-one offers are highly attractive to tourists, enhancing convenience while ensuring direct benefits for the hotel sector. He also proposed incorporating this model into the "M" Mark event assessment criteria as a key factor, encouraging organizers to collaborate with the tourism industry for greater synergy.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalists: Wu Jianyi; English Editor: Darius)
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