Editorial | Wine and Dine Festival will be welcome boost for Hong Kong’s catering sector
The event can provide a lift for the struggling industry by exposing visitors to new tastes and increasing engagement
The festival, running from October 23 to 26, is expected to draw around 150,000 visitors. Opening hours will be extended to midnight for the first time, a welcome development. There will be 305 booths offering products from 31 countries and regions. The return of the Grand Wine Pavilion, offering premium tastings, and the Tasting Room, with its star chefs, will ensure a strong presence for high-end wining and dining. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a “gourmet avenue” of award-winning restaurants.
A trip by a government delegation to Bordeaux, the famous French winemaking area, paid off. Wines from five of the region’s top producers will be available for tasting.
It is important to maintain the city’s reputation as a fine-dining destination. Hong Kong boasts 76 Michelin stars, but high-end restaurants are not immune to the hardships suffered by the industry and have numbered among the closures.
Hong Kong has developed into a key wine trading centre since removing duties on the product in 2008. There were 770 establishments importing wine and more than 500 retail stores in 2024, but imports and exports have fallen in recent years.
Restaurateurs and wine traders need to adapt to new market conditions and customer tastes. Many are striving to innovate to survive and flourish. With its unique East-meets-West culture, Hong Kong is perfectly placed to offer a variety of gourmet food and fine wines. The city seeks to attract high-end tourists, and big spenders expect to eat and drink well. By exposing visitors to new tastes and giving customers the chance to engage with the industry, the Wine and Dine Festival can help ensure the city leaves people satisfied.