The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) reported that the city welcomed 4.2 million visitors in November 2025, a 17 % year-on-year jump that pushes total arrivals for the first eleven months to 45.2 million—already 92 % of the government’s full-year goal of 49 million. Mainland travellers accounted for three-quarters of the traffic, but non-mainland arrivals grew even faster, led by long-haul markets (+19 %) and short-haul Asian markets (+17 %).
Officials attribute the surge to an aggressive calendar of ‘mega-events’—from the Rugby Sevens reboot to the rescheduled Art Basel—as well as new hardware such as the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium and expanded cruise-ship berths. The November data mark the fifth consecutive month of double-digit growth and suggest that 2025 will end at roughly 78 % of the pre-pandemic 2018 peak.
For mobility professionals, the uptick has two immediate implications. First, hotel compression is returning: average daily rates in core business districts rose 11 % in November, according to STR. Second, processing times at land and air borders are lengthening despite e-gate deployments; travel managers should budget an extra 20-30 minutes for Shenzhen Bay and Lo Wu during weekend peaks.
![Visitor arrivals up 17 % in November as Hong Kong nears 49-million target]()
Whether you are a leisure traveller taking advantage of Hong Kong’s packed events calendar or a corporate travel manager coordinating regional meetings, VisaHQ can simplify the visa process for every passport in your group. Our online platform (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) provides up-to-date entry requirements, expedited processing options and door-to-door document handling—freeing you to focus on itineraries instead of paperwork.
The numbers also strengthen the government’s hand as it pitches Hong Kong as a ‘super-connector’ for multinational conferences and regional headquarters. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law reiterated that the administration is working with airlines to restore seat capacity to 95 % of 2019 levels by summer 2026 and is expanding the Short-Term Activities Visa Waiver to additional sectors, following October’s inclusion of maritime and think-tank categories.
Looking ahead, HKTB will double marketing spend in India, the Middle East and Central Asia—markets where visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to Hong Kong gives it a competitive edge over rival hubs. Corporations planning APAC kick-off meetings in Q1 2026 should secure venue contracts quickly, as convention-centre availability is tightening.
Officials attribute the surge to an aggressive calendar of ‘mega-events’—from the Rugby Sevens reboot to the rescheduled Art Basel—as well as new hardware such as the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium and expanded cruise-ship berths. The November data mark the fifth consecutive month of double-digit growth and suggest that 2025 will end at roughly 78 % of the pre-pandemic 2018 peak.
For mobility professionals, the uptick has two immediate implications. First, hotel compression is returning: average daily rates in core business districts rose 11 % in November, according to STR. Second, processing times at land and air borders are lengthening despite e-gate deployments; travel managers should budget an extra 20-30 minutes for Shenzhen Bay and Lo Wu during weekend peaks.
Whether you are a leisure traveller taking advantage of Hong Kong’s packed events calendar or a corporate travel manager coordinating regional meetings, VisaHQ can simplify the visa process for every passport in your group. Our online platform (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) provides up-to-date entry requirements, expedited processing options and door-to-door document handling—freeing you to focus on itineraries instead of paperwork.
The numbers also strengthen the government’s hand as it pitches Hong Kong as a ‘super-connector’ for multinational conferences and regional headquarters. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law reiterated that the administration is working with airlines to restore seat capacity to 95 % of 2019 levels by summer 2026 and is expanding the Short-Term Activities Visa Waiver to additional sectors, following October’s inclusion of maritime and think-tank categories.
Looking ahead, HKTB will double marketing spend in India, the Middle East and Central Asia—markets where visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to Hong Kong gives it a competitive edge over rival hubs. Corporations planning APAC kick-off meetings in Q1 2026 should secure venue contracts quickly, as convention-centre availability is tightening.
