Hong Kong hotels packed for National Day break. So why is the industry worried?

Hong Kong’s hotels recorded occupancy rates of more than 80 per cent in the first three days of the National Day “golden week” holiday amid a 6.3 per cent rise in visitor arrivals, but industry leaders have warned that the city’s success in managing mega-event crowds may create a new hurdle for tourism.

They warned that the government’s focus on ensuring major events ended earlier at night to help with cross-border travel was undercutting demand for extended stays.

“There has been a noticeable increase in same-day trips to Hong Kong among tourists, which may be partly attributed to the government’s strong focus on facilitating same-day returns for major events such as fireworks displays and concerts earlier this year,” Caspar Tsui Ying-wai, the executive director of the Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners, said.

“While this approach offers convenience, it may inadvertently limit the opportunity to showcase Hong Kong’s wider range of attractions and reduce the likelihood of overnight stays.”

The industry’s warning comes as tourism chief Rosanna Law Shuk-pui revealed on Saturday that the city recorded 676,000 visitor arrivals during the first three days of the holiday, marking a 6.3 per cent year-on-year increase.

“The flow of visitors must be overwhelming in this golden week as we still have other signature events to woo tourists, such as the Fire Dragon Dance in Tai Hang and other activities for the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations,” she told a radio programme.