Mainland Chinese tourist arrivals in Hong Kong surged on the first day of the National Day “golden week” holiday, reaching a peak before settling near last year’s levels for the following days, according to official data. Immigration Department figures recorded 277,304 mainland visitors entering the city on October 1, marking a year-on-year increase of 19.1 percent compared to 232,751 arrivals during the first day of last year’s holiday and 25.1 percent above the 221,644 recorded in 2024.
The strong start was attributed in part to the city’s National Day fireworks display, as well as the shorter seven-day holiday period this year, which led some tourists to begin their trips earlier than usual. Perry Yiu Pak-leung, a lawmaker and chairman of China Travel Service, highlighted the fireworks as a significant draw for visitors and noted that early bookings resulted in hotel occupancy exceeding 90 percent on the opening day. The tourism sector anticipates overall hotel occupancy during the holiday to reach roughly 90 percent.
Following the initial surge, the growth in arrivals moderated considerably. On the second day, mainland visitor numbers increased by 5.4 percent year on year to 234,007 but remained nearly steady at 221,566 on the third day. On October 4, arrivals edged up by 2.3 percent to 206,180. Over the first four days of the holiday, total mainland arrivals reached 939,057, approximately 7 percent higher than the 877,833 recorded over the same period last year and 14.5 percent more than in 2024.
A notable discrepancy between arrivals and departures was observed on the first day, with only 49,798 mainland visitors leaving Hong Kong, resulting in a net inflow of 227,506. This gap narrowed significantly from the second day onward, and departures exceeded arrivals on both the third and fourth days.
Yiu emphasized the importance of nighttime attractions in encouraging visitors to stay overnight rather than return to the mainland the same day. He pointed to the National Day fireworks and an extended lantern display at Victoria Park as key events likely to promote longer stays. “Whether there are programmes worth staying for has a big impact on whether visitors are willing to remain in Hong Kong,” he said.
The influx coincided with increased crowds not only in traditional tourist districts but also in countryside destinations and locations gaining popularity on mainland social media. Sai Kung district councillor Edwin Cheung Chin-pang noted how the implementation of a reservation system for Po Pin Chau may have redirected visitors to other sites, such as Ham Tin Wan, which remain unregulated.
Cheung urged authorities to adopt monitoring mechanisms for mainland social media platforms like RedNote to forecast emerging tourist hotspots and enable timely preparation by local district offices, police, and other relevant bodies. He warned that viral posts featuring scenic photos can rapidly boost visitor numbers, challenging efforts to manage sudden surges. Cheung also called for better promotion of reservation policies through mainland travel booking platforms, stressing that some visitors remained unaware of booking requirements and expected walk-in access.
In addition, Cheung reiterated his support for introducing deposits or fees for reservations to reduce the high rate of no-shows, a problem that complicates crowd management.
Social media posts by mainland tourists revealed large gatherings at popular attractions during the holiday’s initial days but also drew attention to concerns over littering, especially following the fireworks. Some commentators encouraged visitors to carry rubbish bags and dispose of waste responsibly to maintain public cleanliness.