Hong Kong visitor numbers slide for a third month, dashing hopes for a near-term recovery

Visitors to Hong Kong declined for the third month in a row in October, albeit at a slower pace, with mainland tourists leading the drop, according to visitor numbers released by the Tourism Board on Wednesday. The latest figures pour cold water on hopes that there will be a turnaround this year.

Visitors from the mainland fell 3.5 per cent year-on-year in October, an improvement from September’s 5 per cent decline. The softer landing was ostensibly due to the “golden week” holiday – the seven-day break from National Day on October 1.

Overall visitor numbers were down 2.4 per cent compared with October last year.

Tourism sector lawmaker Yiu Si-wing said the decline could be due to several factors, including, the negative effect of the Mong Kok riot in February, liberalisation of visa policies allowing mainland tourists more destination choices, a weaker yuan relative to the Hong Kong dollar and the cancellation of multiple-entry visas for Shenzhen residents.

The negative numbers will dampen optimism felt by tourism officials who were upbeat there would be a turnaround after mainland visitor numbers rose in July.

“The government should invest in long-term tourism infrastructure to make Hong Kong more attractive to overseas and mainland tourists,” Yiu said, citing the government’s announcement that it would invest HK$5.8 billion in the HK$10.9 billion expansion of Hong Kong Disneyland as a good example.

“Moreover, the promotion of a culture of hospitality in Hong Kong will be helpful in reversing negative impressions of Hong Kong following recent chaos.”