Hong Kong Eyes Comeback as a Top Global Tourism Hub

Hong Kong SAR, China can re-establish itself as a go-to destination for international travellers by investing in key source markets, new World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) research reveals. The WTTC report ‘Travel & Tourism in Hong Kong SAR, China: Recovery, Gaps, and the Road Ahead’ recommends that the city invests in promotion to key source markets globally. In addition, the destination should expand its reach into higher-yield segments and new geographies, specifically targeting mainland cities beyond Guangdong, as well as fast-growing markets in ASEAN, the Middle East, and India. The recommendation is important given the fact that 76% of total inbound visitors to Hong Kong in 2025 came from Mainland China, with only 24% travelling from other global markets. Inbound visitor arrivals for 2025 are forecast to have reached 50.3 million, down 22.9% from the 2018 peak of 65.3 million. Meanwhile, spending from business travellers was set to be 16.8% below 2018 levels owing to the dual shocks of civil unrest in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic the following year. Despite facing challenges, Hong Kong SAR, China’s Travel & Tourism industry is a major contributor to the city’s economy, with WTTC estimating that the sector accounts for US$56.4 billion or 13.6% of its GDP and supported 587,000 jobs in 2025.