Hong Kong recorded about 4.5 million visitor arrivals in July, a preliminary figure that was 3% higher than a year earlier, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Arrivals in the first seven months reached approximately 31.22 million, up 11% year on year.
The Travel Industry Council said Hong Kong should retain its mainland visitor base while expanding and diversifying overseas source markets. Its proposals were submitted as the government prepares the city's first five-year plan and its forthcoming Policy Address.
TIC chairman Tommy Tam said mainland visitors were expected to remain the main driver of inbound tourism over the next five years. He also called for Hong Kong to re-engage long-haul markets and develop opportunities in the Middle East, ASEAN and Central Asia.
Long-haul arrivals grew 19% year on year, while short-haul markets came under pressure from airline capacity adjustments linked to higher fuel costs amid tensions in the Middle East. Growth in the mainland market slowed in July, which the report attributed mainly to several days of adverse weather.
International conferences and major events held during the month, including the 108th Lions Clubs International Convention and the LEAP East technology exhibition, helped support business and MICE arrivals as well as growth in some source markets.
Tam said Hong Kong could make greater use of China's refined visa-free transit policy, under which citizens of 55 countries may transit without a visa for up to 10 days, to strengthen the city's role as a gateway to mainland China. He also said the mainland's high-speed rail network could attract visitors from outside the Greater Bay Area.
An expanded individual visit scheme could help support longer stays, Tam said. He recommended promoting Hong Kong's combination of culture, sports and nature to encourage visitors to remain in the city for longer. These measures were proposals to the government, rather than confirmed policy, as it works on its tourism plan and Policy Address.