Hong Kong visitor arrivals off to strong start in 2026, up 9.6% to 7.23 million

AdvertisementHong Kong tourismHong KongHong Kong EconomyHong Kong visitor arrivals off to strong start in 2026, up 9.6% to 7.23 millionFinancial Secretary Paul Chan says 1.43 million mainland Chinese visitors expected during Lunar New Year holiday, up 6 per cent from last yearReading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPNg Kang-chungPublished: 5:27pm, 15 Feb 2026Updated: 5:29pm, 15 Feb 2026Hong Kong has begun 2026 with a surge in inbound tourism, welcoming 7.23 million visitors to date, marking an increase of 9.6 per cent compared with the previous year.Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also said that 1.43 million mainland Chinese visitors were expected during the Lunar New Year holiday, up 6 per cent from last year.He attributed this expected boost to the mega-events scheduled throughout the holiday.Advertisement“Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year atmosphere is rich and vibrant, blending traditional and modern elements,” Chan wrote on his weekly blog on Sunday.“There are also many major events and performances, giving citizens a wide range of exciting choices and attracting many tourists to experience the festivities.”AdvertisementChan said that as of last Friday, the city had logged 7.23 million arrivals since the beginning of 2026, an increase of 9.6 per cent compared with the same period last year, with overseas visitors showing an even more significant increase of 16.4 per cent.AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x