Hong Kong logged over 215,000 entries of Chinese mainland visitors on Thursday, the first day of 2026, which represents a 102.5 percent increase compared with Jan 1, 2025.
A total 664,338 inbound visitor trips were recorded in Hong Kong on Thursday, marking a 25.6 percent year-on-year increase. Among the arrivals, 215,332 came from the mainland, double the same time last year, according to the statistics released by the Immigration Department on Friday.
Arrivals from other countries and regions were 40,776, a 38.9 percent year-on-year increase.
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As for the number of outbound travels, the data shown that among the 515,954 exits recorded on Thursday, 215,384 were by mainland visitors, increases of 22.8 percent and 42 percent respectively.
Notably, the New Year's holiday on mainland this year spans from Thursday to Saturday. In comparison, the New Year’s break in 2025 was only one day.
The momentum continued Friday, as posts circulated on social media showed the Futian/Lok Ma Chau Spur Line checkpoint was packed with southbound travelers in the morning.
The HKSAR government has strengthened services of local and cross-boundary public transport operators during the New Year holidays to meet passenger demand.
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Various activities across Hong Kong are ready to welcome visitors during the weekend. For example, the Hong Kong WinterFest in Central will run through Sunday. The Immersive Light Show in Central will be displayed every 30 minutes from 7 to 11:30 pm during the weekend.
Meanwhile, a renowned film location in Hong Kong, the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station, is hosting the A Cinematic Journey exhibition, starting Friday.
Designed by local filmmakers, the exhibition brings visitors iconic scenes from police and crime films while offering immersive experiences in exploring the historic police station. The show from Friday through Sunday is sold out.
Over 500 exclusive deals, including shopping discounts, dinning offers, and public transportation deals, are being distributed on mainstream e-payment platforms, including Alipay, WeChat, Octopus and Visa.
Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, told China Daily that the surge in New Year’s Day tourist arrivals reflects the city’s sustained appeal. He said that a series of major events at Kai Tak Sports Park in 2025 had helped enhance Hong Kong’s hospitality standards and attract renewed visitor interest.
Chui also credited authorities’ promotional campaigns for effectively driving inbound tourism, while adding that further boosting spending requires concerted efforts across various sectors, including retail, catering, transportation, and others.
Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com
