Mainland Chinese tourists were loosening their purse strings as they flocked to Hong Kong at the start of the National Day holiday on Wednesday, with many opting to stay a few days to enjoy the fireworks, outdoor attractions and urban vibes.
Hong Kong authorities estimated that as many as 1.54 million mainland visitors, including 1,200 tour groups, would come over the eight-day “golden week” holiday, which coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival. The estimate marked an increase of 11 per cent over last year.
As of 9pm, the city recorded a net inflow of about 128,000 passenger trips. About 484,000 inbound trips were made and around 356,000 outbound ones. Of the inbound trips, 46 per cent were made by mainlanders whereas residents accounted for 63 per cent of the outbound trips.
There is a wide range of events and offerings to stimulate spending, including fireworks on Wednesday night, discounts of up to 30 per cent at restaurants and perks covering public transport, museums, dining and shopping.
At around 1.30pm, The Peak Tram terminus in Central was packed with visitors as they headed to the popular sightseeing spot.
A mainland visitor surnamed Hou from Foshan, Guangdong province, said he was happy the queues were shorter than expected and looked forward to seeing the views from the top.
