With the kickoff of the National Day holiday, Hong Kong's Immigration Department expects around 7.44 million passenger movements into and out of HK during this period. The city is set to welcome domestic and overseas tourists, including 1.29 million visitors from the mainland, alongside a series of major extravaganza shows, including fireworks displays and gala evening programs scheduled for today and tomorrow.
Hong Kong has been brimming with festive joy. Amid the global wave of technology, its international competitiveness has achieved remarkable success, climbing to 2nd globally in the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026, while its position in the latest Global Innovation Index rose to 14th. These impressive rankings resonate with HK's charm as a "city of hospitality, fashion, education, and events," reflecting the international metropolis's profound heritage and vibrant dynamism.
Asia's Events Capital: Year-round spectaculars attract returning tourists
Hong Kong is Asia's events capital, featuring year-round mega-events widely welcomed by tourists and residents alike. The Hong Kong Tourism Board's inaugural large-scale "International Lantern Spectacular" drew packed crowds for days, while tonight's National Day fireworks display is expected to draw tens of thousands to the streets. Scholars noted that in recent years, a diverse range of large and small events and festive activities, coupled with the completion of new venues like Kai Tak Sports Park, have enriched the variety of events, helping to entice tourists to visit again and again.
The opening of the Kai Tak Stadium ignited a wave of local sports enthusiasm. Venue operators announced that two "Hong Kong Football Festival" matches on August 1 and 5 recorded over 86,000 attendees; together with the "Audi Football Summit" on August 7, total cumulative attendance exceeded 125,000. The Football Association of Hong Kong, China hosted the ASEAN Cup from Sept. 24 to Oct. 3, further consolidating HK's position in global football.
Marking the 50th anniversary of the Hong Kong Sevens, the three-day tournament from April 17 to 19 recorded 113,000 attendees, with ticket sales surpassing 100,000 ten weeks prior to the event. The Hong Kong China Rugby Union estimated that the event generated an overall economic benefit of approximately US$100 million for HK, boosting business for dining and retail merchants in the Kowloon City area by 15%.
HK hosts over 20 top international sporting events each year, including the Hong Kong Sevens and the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, possessing immense appeal for overnight visitors. Wong Ka-wing, Head of the Department of Hospitality at the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, stated that the wider variety of events attracts tourists who previously would not have visited HK, while also encouraging repeat visits. To further enhance its reputation as an "event capital," HK must refine both software and hardware hospitality infrastructure while diversifying experiences to ensure visitors keep returning.
Fashion Capital: Gathering trends and couture to showcase HK creativity to the world
As a hub of creativity and fashion trends, HK is acclaimed as a "fashion capital." In September, the two-week 3rd Hong Kong Fashion Fest gathered over 300 local and international design units. Partnering with six industry organizations, it staged eight flagship programs, including "VIRTUOSE: The Artistry of Couture 2026," citywide fashion flash mob "Wear's HK," CENTRESTAGE, "Fashion Summit (Hong Kong) 2026," "Fashion Asia Hong Kong 2026," and the "The Hong Kong Denim Festival 5th Edition." These events presented diverse fashion activities across various cultural landmarks, thrusting emerging designers' creativity onto the international stage.
The Chief Executive proposed in the 2023 Policy Address to develop HK into an Asian fashion design center. The HKSAR Government began organizing Hong Kong Fashion Fest in 2024, which in two years has progressively grown into a major annual fashion event.
As a meeting place of Eastern and Western fashion, HK preserves traditional Chinese fashion culture. The craftsmanship of Chinese Cheongsam and Qungua (traditional wedding gown) making has been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong. An exhibition centered on Qungua, titled "Kwan Kwa: Chinese Wedding Costume Reimagined Exhibition 2026," is currently taking place at the Hong Kong Design Institute. In the 1980s, HK cinema and pop music led fashion trends, driving local style across Southeast Asia.
Education Capital: World university rankings rise as "Study in HK" gains global renown
In recent years, Hong Kong has actively built itself into an international post-secondary education hub, fully promoting the "Study in Hong Kong" brand. The Chief Executive officially introduced the brand in the 2024 Policy Address, subsequently establishing an inter-departmental "Task Force on Study in Hong Kong" to foster HK as a strategic stronghold for gathering top international talent.
HK is the only city in the world boasting five universities ranked among the global top 100. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) ranked 11th globally and 2nd in Asia; the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) surged 14 places to 18th globally, marking the first time two HK universities have simultaneously placed in the global top 20.
In the THE World University Rankings 2027, HKU ranked 33rd globally, while City University of Hong Kong (CityU) rose to 70th. Hong Kong's overall educational competitiveness ranked 2nd globally, with four universities ranking among the top 10 most internationalized universities worldwide, and six academic subjects placing in the global top 10.
Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin stated that the government launched the "Hong Kong: Your World-class Campus" promotional campaign and is extending the promotion of "Study in Hong Kong" and "Study Tours in Hong Kong" to primary and secondary school levels.
The government is preparing to establish the "Northern Metropolis University Town" to promote deep integration among industry, academia, and research. PolyU President Teng Jin-Guang pointed out that the next decade will be a critical period for shaping the reputation of "Study in Hong Kong."
City of Hospitality: Polite dining and friendly citizens win tourist acclaim
As the National Day holiday got underway, many tourists arriving early reported good overall experiences, noting that HK's convenience and the friendly attitude of its residents left deep impressions. In 2025, visitor arrivals to HK reached 49.9 million, a year-on-year increase of 12%, with overnight visitors staying an average of 3.1 nights. In the World Tourism Cities Development Report, HK ranked 7th among the world's top 10 tourism cities, while its city smartness ranked 3rd worldwide.
Wong Ka-wing noted that the government's recent drive to develop HK as a "city of hospitality" is on the right track, with improved public acceptance and tolerance of tourists alongside enhanced service industry standards. The core of a "city of hospitality" lies in local citizens' acceptance of tourists; the government could further highlight tourism's economic contribution to encourage the whole community to tell the HK story together.
(Source: Ta Kung Pao)
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