Visitors from mainland China made nearly 440,000 trips to Hong Kong over the Mid-Autumn Festival weekend. According to figures released on Monday, Hong Kong’s Immigration Department recorded 439,532 inbound trips by mainland visitors from September 25 to 27.
The figure accounted for about a quarter of the 1.73 million inbound trips, including those made by Hong Kong residents, during the three-day period.
The Immigration Department also said it expected about 1.29 million mainland visitors to arrive in the city during China’s seven-day National Day golden week holiday, which began today.
It also forecast that the average daily number of visitor arrivals from across the border would surpass last year’s figure by more than 5 per cent.
If mainland residents combine this golden week with the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival break at the end of September, taking an additional three days of leave from Monday to Wednesday, they would be able to enjoy a continuous 13-day holiday.
Travel Industry Council chairman Tommy Tam said the sector’s own National Day holiday estimate was in line with the government’s forecast.
“Of course, in traditional popular districts, such as Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay and Central, [hotel occupancy rates] will exceed 90 per cent,” he told a radio programme. “And I heard from the industry that room rates this year have increased by nearly double digits.”
Hotel prices in Causeway Bay, for example, were significantly higher for October 1 to 3 – during the National Day holiday – than for September 29 and 30, according to searches by the South China Morning Post on booking platform Trip.com.
Average nightly prices rose by between 36 per cent and more than 230 per cent across budget, mid-range and luxury hotels. For example, a room at the Regal Hongkong Hotel in Causeway Bay, for example, rose by 65 per cent from HK$828 to HK$1,367, including taxes and fees, according to prices on Trip.com.
Tam said visitors were opting for staggered travel arrangements and multi-destination itineraries, arriving in Hong Kong a few days early or late before continuing to Macau or other cities in the Greater Bay Area.
He also said the industry was optimistic about spending on catering and high-end retail businesses.
Geoparks in rural areas are among the destinations that have gained popularity with mainland visitors.
But official data showed that about half of those who reserved places for the Po Pin Chau section of the High Island Geo Trail failed to show up.
During the initial trial weekend, only about 1,560 people arrived despite more than 3,200 bookings. During the Mid-Autumn Festival period, an average of about 1,170 visitors showed up each day, compared with 2,360 reservations.
Lawmaker Christine Fong Kwok-shan, who represents the New Territories South East constituency, suggested introducing an admission fee or deposit to reduce the number of no-shows.
“I referenced, for example, mainland geological parks in Shenzhen and other places. They actually charge about 80 to 100 yuan [HK$93 to HK$117], so I think the deposit could be similar to these fees,” she said.
Authorities have said they will conduct a comprehensive review of the reservation system after the National Day holiday period is over. The “golden week” ends next Thursday.
