On Christmas Eve, Hong Kong was alive with crowds, with a strong festive atmosphere felt across the city. Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, and West Kowloon had all donned their Christmas attire, with dazzling lights and themed decorations attracting large numbers of locals and tourists who came to take photos.
Many families, including the elderly and children, ventured out to enjoy the celebrations. Meanwhile, some mainland tourists made a special trip to HK to experience its unique Christmas vibes. Popular destinations like Lan Kwai Fong saw over half of the businesses offering discounts and complimentary dishes, with expectations that the influx of tourists would boost foot traffic. Lan Kwai Fong Association Director, Ms. Chang, stated that the overall reservation rate in the area reached 90%, with per capita spending increasing by 5% to 10% year on year. She said, "Many people stop by Lan Kwai Fong for entertainment after taking photos. Besides group tours from Korea and Thailand, we're also seeing more individual tourists willing to spend money, filling the gap left by locals traveling abroad."
On Christmas Eve, the "Immersive Light Show" at Statue Square in Central featured a 3D light projection show on the facades of eight iconic buildings every half hour. Crowds swelled as night fell, with over a hundred people queuing up for photos at one point. Nearby, Lan Kwai Fong also embraced the festive season with Christmas lights and themed decorations, drawing such a large crowd that the area became packed. Police set up barricades along the steep streets to implement crowd control.
Locals: "The only thing missing was colder weather"
Mr. Ng, a local resident, said that HK's Christmas atmosphere rivals that of overseas destinations, which is why he chose to stay in the city for the holidays. However, he noted that the only thing missing was colder weather. "It's pretty good here, but a bit of chill would elevate the Christmas vibes," he remarked. Similarly, Ms. Tsang, another resident, felt that the Tai Po fire hadn't significantly impacted this year's overall Christmas atmosphere. She observed that many locals were still out enjoying the lights, saying, "Some of the decorations are really beautiful, and I took a photo with this tall Christmas tree."
Some mainland tourists came to HK with their families specifically to celebrate Christmas, planning to dine in Central and later head to bars in Lan Kwai Fong to continue the festivities. Ms. Lu, a visitor from Shenzhen, said, "I heard that HK's Christmas atmosphere is very strong, so I wanted to experience it for myself. It really is great. I thought it would be very cold, but it's not. Also, today's sunset was beautiful."
A bar manager in Lan Kwai Fong revealed that their venue was offering free drinks to attract customers and had prepared Christmas-themed items like glasses and headbands for each table. A Christmas tree was also set up inside to enhance the festive mood.
Chang noted that while the global economy has not fully recovered, restaurants in Lan Kwai Fong offered menus catering to a range of budgets, from casual to high-end options. For instance, some restaurants provided four-course meals or buffets priced at several hundred HK dollars, paired with discounted drinks to attract customers.
She disclosed that the overall reservation rate in Lan Kwai Fong on Christmas Eve reached 90%, with average spending per person expected to increase by 5% to 10% year on year. Both the festive atmosphere and business performance met expectations. She expressed her satisfaction with the Hong Kong Tourism Board's decision to relocate the winter light displays to Central this year. "Lan Kwai Fong is a key point in Central, and many people visiting for photos naturally stop by Lan Kwai Fong for entertainment. Apart from group tours from Korea and Thailand, there are now more individual tourists willing to spend, which fills the gap left by locals traveling abroad."
Crowds at the airport and high-speed rail station on Christmas Eve
Hong Kong International Airport saw large crowds of travelers yesterday, particularly in the departure halls, where locals gathered to check in for flights during the holiday season. Their travel destinations included Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Taiwan, while some chose to vacation in the Chinese Mainland.
The Airport Authority estimated that during the Christmas and New Year holiday period, the airport would handle up to 1,200 daily flights, with peak daily passenger traffic reaching 200,000. The airport's parking lot for long-term parking was fully occupied at one point yesterday. Similarly, the West Kowloon High-Speed Rail Station was bustling with people.
According to Hong Kong Travel Industry Council Executive Director Fanny Yeung, approximately 1,500 tour groups were expected to depart HK during the Christmas holidays, with 60% heading to the Chinese Mainland via high-speed rail.
Increased shuttle bus services for cross-boundary travel
The interdepartmental task force on festive arrangements, led by Chief Secretary Eric Chan, anticipated heavy usage of land control points by locals, tourists, and cross-boundary vehicles during the Christmas long weekend.
To meet demand, the team coordinated with local and cross-boundary public transportation operators to enhance services. The task force announced that from Dec. 24 to 28, shuttle bus services on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge would operate more frequently, with the peak schedule running approximately every minute. Shuttle buses between Lok Ma Chau and Huanggang would also see increased frequency, with peak services running every two minutes.
Additional quotas were allocated for cross-boundary direct buses, while local franchise bus routes (B-line) connecting to land checkpoints would also operate at higher-than-usual weekend frequencies. Operators have reserved vehicles and staff to handle passenger demand.
Possible long waits for cross-boundary private cars
Regarding the MTR, train services on the East Rail Line between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau stations would be enhanced during specific periods to facilitate travel for locals and tourists. The task force reminded cross-boundary private car drivers that special traffic arrangements might be implemented at Lok Ma Chau and Shenzhen Bay control points, potentially resulting in longer wait times during peak hours. Drivers were advised to pay close attention to traffic signs and electronic display information along the way.
Fanny Yeung mentioned in a radio interview yesterday that the Christmas holidays are a peak travel season. While three-to-four-day high-speed rail tours to destinations like Guilin, Chaozhou, and Zhaoqing remained popular, air travel tours focused mainly on short-haul destinations, with Korea being a favorite. Japan saw a slight decline in popularity due to recent bear attacks and earthquakes, while Vietnam also gained traction.
In terms of inbound tourism, Yeung noted that over 6,000 mainland tour groups visited HK last month, with more than 4,000 expected this month. The peak travel season and higher hotel prices were the main reasons for the decrease. Despite the cancellation of the New Year's Eve fireworks display, HK still has countdown events, which she believes will not deter tourists from visiting.
Survey shows slight increase in Christmas spending
Christmas is traditionally a peak season for consumer spending. The Hong Kong Research Association conducted a random telephone survey from Dec. 8 to 18, successfully interviewing 1,070 adult residents. The results showed a slight increase in Christmas spending intentions, with 24% of respondents planning to spend more this year, a 2-percentage-point increase compared to last year. Among them, 36% planned to spend between HK$500 and HK$999, while those with a holiday budget of HK$5,000 or more rose by 8 percentage points year on year.
The survey also revealed that 37% of respondents expected their spending to be "about the same" as last year, a 1-percentage-point increase. Meanwhile, 30% said they would spend less, a 3-percentage-point decrease year on year. Those planning to spend more rose to 24%, reflecting a slight increase in consumer confidence.
When asked about their estimated Christmas expenses, most respondents (36%) planned to spend between HK$500 and HK$999. A total of 17% anticipated spending HK$2,000 or more, representing a 5-percentage-point year-on-year increase. Notably, the proportion of those planning to spend HK$5,000 or more rose by 8 percentage points, indicating an increase in high-spending consumers.
The survey also found that 54% of respondents planned to "stay in HK" for Christmas, a 7-percentage-point decrease year on year. Meanwhile, 34% intended to "travel abroad," a 9-percentage-point increase, marking the highest proportion since the association began conducting the survey in 2008. This suggests a growing desire among residents to travel abroad during the Christmas season.
The Association concluded that this year's slight increase in consumer confidence and spending intentions, coupled with the surge in tourist arrivals during the festive season, is expected to boost the local economy. They recommended that the HKSAR government introduce more targeted initiatives and diversify festive activities to further showcase the city's unique charm and cultural depth, allowing both residents and tourists to fully immerse themselves in the holiday atmosphere and stimulate spending, thereby injecting new vitality into HK's economy.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Li Qianxu; English Editor: Zoey SUN)
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