More than 277,000 mainland visitors arrived in Hong Kong on October 1, the first day of the National Day Golden Week holiday, setting the highest single-day figure since normal travel between Hong Kong and the mainland fully resumed in 2023, according to the Immigration Department.
The total was about 17,000 above the reported 2018 peak of roughly 260,000 and exceeded the 267,000 mainland arrivals recorded on the comparable day last year, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law said. Mainland visitors accounted for about 91 per cent of the roughly 305,500 inbound travellers recorded that day.
The government expects about 1.29 million mainland visitors during the holiday, an increase of roughly 5 per cent year on year when measured by the daily average. Law forecast that the period would generate about HK$1 billion in business for Hong Kong and said she was confident the city would meet its annual target of 53.8 million visitor arrivals.
At land boundary control points, the Immigration Department plans to open additional inspection counters, temporary counters and vehicle inspection booths during peak periods to improve crossing efficiency.
Law said there may be fewer flights, while high oil prices have kept airfares high, potentially affecting short-haul visitors’ willingness to spend and desire to visit Hong Kong. She said global conditions remained a challenge.
Travellers can check real-time crossing conditions through the Security Bureau’s Easy Boundary platform before setting out and plan their journeys to avoid the busiest periods.