Chan projects 1.85 million visitors from mega-events
RTHK · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said Hong Kong will stage more than 100 mega-events in the second half of the year, with officials expecting them to draw more than 1.85 million visitors and generate about HK$5.9 billion in spending. He said the government wants to build on a first half in which event tourism supported retail sales, dining and wider consumption.
Key Points
- Chan said about 1.75 million visitors joined more than 130 mega-events in the first half, bringing roughly HK$5.8 billion in spending and HK$3.3 billion in economic value added.
- Hong Kong’s total retail sales value has risen for 14 straight months, with a 9.6% increase in the first half, according to Chan’s latest blog post.
- Three matches at Kai Tak Sports Park, including the Hong Kong Football Festival 2026 and the 2026 Audi Summer Tour, drew more than 120,000 spectators and are expected to bring in over HK$180 million in ticket revenue.
- Chan said restaurants near Kai Tak reported about 20% more business during the matches, while merchants offered ticket-stub promotions, dining discounts and free parking to capture extra spending.
- Planned second-half events include the HKTDC Food Expo, the National Day fireworks display, the Hong Kong Cyclothon and the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival.
Why It Matters
The government is tying tourism growth more directly to local consumption, using major events to spread spending from ticketed venues to nearby restaurants, shops and promotional campaigns. October’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation finance ministers’ meeting also gives Hong Kong a platform to market itself as both an international financial centre and an events destination.