Number of monthly visitor arrivals in Hong Kong 2021-2025

Hong Kong's tourism industry was showing strong signs of recovery, with visitor arrivals reaching approximately 4.7 million in January 2025. This marked a significant rebound from the dramatic drop in arrivals experienced at the beginning of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The upward trend began in late 2022 and has continued to gain momentum, reflecting the city's resilience and appeal as a global travel destination.

Robust growth in visitor numbers

The recovery of Hong Kong's tourism sector is evident in the substantial increase in visitor arrivals throughout 2024. Total arrivals for the year amounted to 44.5 million, representing a more than 30 percent increase compared to 2023. This growth was largely driven by visitors from mainland China, who accounted for over 34 million arrivals in 2024, an increase of more than seven million compared to the previous year.

Economic impact and spending patterns

The surge in visitor numbers has had a positive impact on Hong Kong's economy, with overnight tourism revenue reaching approximately 120.5 billion Hong Kong dollars in 2024. Mainland Chinese visitors contributed significantly to this figure, spending around 73.4 billion Hong Kong dollars during their stays. However, it's worth noting that while the number of overnight visitors in 2024 reached nearly 22 million, this still fell short of the 23.8 million recorded in 2019, indicating that there is still room for further recovery in the tourism sector.