Holiday breaks leave tourism sector with high hopes

RTHK - Sep 28, 2026

Travel Industry Council chairman Tommy Tam on Monday said hotel bookings were looking good for the upcoming National Day Golden Week holiday and that he was optimistic about the overall spending atmosphere. Speaking on an RTHK programme, he said more mainland tourists were expected to visit Hong Kong this year. This, Tam said, was because of the proximity of the Mid-Autumn Festival to Golden Week this year, which allowed mainlanders to enjoy a 13-day break by taking just three days of leave. The long holiday is a driving factor behind the travel intentions of mainlanders, he said, adding that the number of visitors to Hong Kong during the Mid-Autumn Festival had been encouraging. The tourism sector, Tam added, was also optimistic about the travellers’ spending power in the city. “We believe that various sectors may benefit, such as catering, mid-to-high-end retail like cosmetics and electronic products,” he said. “Tourists are also willing to book hotels – the booking figures are quite encouraging – and spend on cultural experiences such as workshops and guided tours.” Tam said many individual travellers might make day trips to the SAR while those joining tour groups could stay in the city for two to three nights. Even with hotel room prices up by...

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