Hong Kong welcomed 4.03 million tourists in September, driven by the Mid-Autumn Festival and other events.
Hong Kong, the world's second most visited city for international arrivals after Bangkok, received 4.03 million tourists in September, up 22% year-on-year, driven by the Mid-Autumn Festival and other events. According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, arrivals from mainland China rose 29% year-on-year to more than 3.17 million last month, driven by events such as the annual Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance. The board said long-haul markets also maintained solid growth, with arrivals from these destinations climbing 20% year-on-year to more than 286,000 last month.
A tourist poses for photos in front of Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, April 30, 2024. Photo by Reuters Short-haul markets also benefited from the city's festive events, but visitor growth remained under some pressure due to factors such as flight capacity constraints and fuel surcharges, it said. Hong Kong welcomed around 40.7 million visitors in the first nine months of 2026, up 12% year-on-year, signaling continued growth in the city's tourism sector.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board said the city would host several major events in the final quarter to attract more high-value visitors, including Hong Kong Halloween Month, the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, Hong Kong WinterFest and the Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations. The city expects to welcome 53.8 million tourists by the end of this year, up 7.8% from last year.