According to a statement from the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the city welcomed 36.67 million visitors during the first eight months of 2026, representing an 11 percent increase compared with the same period in 2025. The board said visitor growth from the Chinese mainland and long-haul markets continued to perform strongly, while visitor growth from short-haul markets continued to face challenges due to factors such as flight capacity, fuel surcharges and regional competition.
Impact of MICE Tourism In August
The board noted that the number of visitors in August alone exceeded 5.456 million, emphasizing the impact of events held in Hong Kong on visitor numbers. It also highlighted that this was the highest monthly visitor figure recorded since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tourism board said that a number of major international MICE and mega events were held in August, including the “16th China Life Insurance Worldwide Congress and 2026 IDA Annual Conference,” “Hong Kong Football Festival (HKFF) 2026” and “TMElive International Music Awards.” These events attracted visitors from a wide range of markets and contributed to increases in visitor arrivals from the Chinese mainland, Singapore, the UK and other source markets.
