Hong Kong, 6 October 2025 – As Mainland China’s eight-day National Day Golden Week holiday reaches its sixth day, Hong Kong has recorded robust visitor arrivals. According to the Immigration Department, as of 9 p.m. yesterday, 145,000 Mainland visitors entered Hong Kong, contributing to a total of over 1.02 million Mainland tourist arrivals in the first five days of the holiday. Financial Secretary Paul Chan, in his latest blog post, noted that the first four days of the Golden Week saw 877,000 Mainland visitors, a 7% increase compared to last year, while local retail sales have achieved growth for four consecutive months.
Retail Sales Sustain Upward Trend
Immigration Department data shows that over 200,000 Mainland visitors arrived daily during the first four days of the Golden Week. On the fifth day, until 9 p.m., total arrivals reached 446,000, with 145,000 being Mainland tourists and 25,000 from other regions. On the outbound side, 416,000 departures were recorded, including 136,000 Mainland visitors.
In his blog, Mr. Chan highlighted that the first four days of the holiday saw growth in both Mainland and overseas visitors, with 126,000 international tourists, a year-on-year increase of over 30%. He also noted that August’s provisional retail sales value reached HK$30.3 billion, up 3.8% year-on-year, marking four consecutive months of growth and exceeding market expectations. Factors such as a stabilizing residential property market, a buoyant stock market, and rising visitor numbers are contributing to the gradual recovery of the local retail sector.
Upcoming Events to Boost Economy
Mr. Chan outlined several events expected to drive further economic activity, including the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance held during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Wine & Dine Festival later this month, the 15th National Games in November, and various Christmas events. Additionally, high-profile events such as the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit, FinTech Week in November, and DesignInspire in December are anticipated to attract high-spending business travelers, benefiting the retail, dining, and hospitality sectors. The government, he added, will continue collaborating with industries to maximize the economic impact of these events through synergy and coordination.
Over 10 Key Enterprises to Sign Agreements This Week
Mr. Chan also revealed that a signing ceremony for a new batch of key enterprises will take place this week, with over 10 companies establishing or expanding operations in Hong Kong. This includes three of the world’s top 10 pharmaceutical companies and, for the first time, a creative enterprise integrating technology. With this batch, the total number of key enterprises facilitated by the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises will surpass 100.
The sustained influx of visitors and strategic business developments signal a positive outlook for Hong Kong’s economy in the coming months.