Visitor spending in Hong Kong’s tourism sector declined sharply, falling to HK$197.5 billion (US$25.2 billion) in 2025, a 44% decrease from the pre-pandemic 2018 level of about HK$353 billion, according to Legislative Council research reported by inkl.
Declining Visitor Expenditure and Changing Spending Patterns
Spending per overnight visitor in Hong Kong dropped from HK$6,614 in 2018 to HK$5,503 in 2025. For same-day visitors, who typically spend less, expenditure plunged by over 48% from HK$2,202 to HK$1,139 during the same period.
Data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board revealed that shopping’s share of overnight visitor spending decreased from 51% in 2018 to 36% in 2025, while spending on
dining and activities excluding hotel bills rose from 28% to 37%.
Inbound visitor arrivals totaled 49.9 million last year, approximately 75% of the 65.1 million recorded at the 2018 peak, reflecting shifting tourism dynamics.
Industry Insights on Causes and Recovery Strategies
Perry Yiu Pak-leung, chairman of China Travel Service (Hong Kong) and Legislative Council lawmaker, attributed the decline partially to evolving tourist preferences favoring experiential travel over shopping. He highlighted external challenges such as weather, flight prices, and transport costs.
Yiu stated, “The tourism industry is very much affected by the external environment, such as weather, flight prices and transport costs, among others.” He added, “While we
cannot control these factors, providing more and different travel experiences, and strengthening connections and synergy are some important directions to bring an upgrade to our industry, enhance tourists’ travel experience and boost their spending.”
He encouraged deeper cooperation with mainland cities to capitalize on mutual tourist sourcing, citing China’s 240-hour visa-free transit scheme for nationals from 55 eligible countries traveling from mainland China to a third country as a key facilitator.
Yiu noted, “Many travellers first travelled to the mainland and tried taking the high-speed rail to Hong Kong … If we step up cooperation with mainland cities, we can
benefit from mutual tourist sourcing. We can lure foreign travellers and achieve multi-stop travel. I believe it will help increase visitor arrivals.” He also suggested collaborations among Greater Bay Area cities to jointly promote tourism.
Outbound Travel Trends Among Hongkongers and Impact
In contrast to inbound spending, outbound travel by Hong Kong residents grew significantly, with 117.5 million trips in 2025, marking a 28% increase from 2018. Cross-border land checkpoint travel accounted for 88% of these departures.
This growth in outbound travel narrows the gap between local visitor spending and Hongkongers’ expenditures abroad, which reached HK$191.1 billion in 2025.
Yiu pointed to an increase of same-day visitors
who transit through Hong Kong or cross to mainland China, contributing to lower average visitor expenditures.
Transport and Visa Policies Influencing Tourism
China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy allows travelers from 55 countries departing mainland China for a third destination to enter Hong Kong visa-free for up to 10 days via designated ports.
This policy supports multi-stop travel through Hong Kong, boosting connectivity. However, the rise in same-day visitors often limits their spending compared to overnight tourists.
The tourism sector has called for enhanced transport facilitation and incentives to encourage longer stays.
Calls for Enhanced Incentives to Extend Tourist Stays
Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, remarked that while many
events attract tourists, there is a lack of incentives to keep them longer.
He recommended practical measures such as providing free transport and shuttle services between attractions as an effective incentive, referencing Macau hotels’ free shuttle services connecting key sites and border points.
Improving internal transport and offering experiential events are viewed as necessary steps to revitalize tourism revenue and accommodate the evolving preferences of visitors.
