Mainland visitor arrivals to Hong Kong double on New Year’s Day
Hong Kong adds 200th university to 2026 Top Talent Pass Scheme eligibility list
China forecasts record holiday border traffic; Hong Kong prepares contingency measures
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Inbound tourism lifts Hong Kong retail sales; 17 % jump in visitor arrivals recorded
Official November data released on 2 January show Hong Kong retail sales up 6.5 percent, powered by a 17.4 percent rise in visitor arrivals. The numbers confirm that inbound tourism is approaching pre-pandemic levels, with positive knock-on effects for hospitality, retail and corporate events.
Shenzhen and Hong Kong keep Luohu & Shenzhen Bay checkpoints open overnight to ease New-Year rush
In a one-night pilot, Luohu stayed open until 02:00 and Shenzhen Bay until 06:30 on 1 January, giving holiday travellers and freight operators extra clearance capacity. The move averted a post-fireworks crunch and provided valuable data for future 24-hour operations, with clear benefits for Hong Kong retailers, hotels and mobility planners.
Mainland forecasts record 2.1 million daily border movements – Hong Kong braces for spill-over
China’s immigration authority predicts a 22 percent year-on-year jump to 2.1 million daily border crossings over the 1–3 January break, with Luohu and Futian among the busiest. Hong Kong employers face both opportunity and risk: revived deal-making but heavier congestion at key checkpoints and airports.
Cathay Pacific ‘time-travel’ flights let passengers ring in 2026 twice
Cathay Pacific’s CX880 and CX872 allowed passengers to depart Hong Kong in the early hours of 1 January and arrive in California on 31 December, celebrating New Year’s Eve twice. The gimmick highlights the carrier’s restored trans-Pacific capacity and provides corporate travellers with creative client-entertainment options – but payroll and immigration details still need careful handling.
Tourism board hails ‘mega-events bounce’ as Hong Kong closes out record festive season
Visitor arrivals jumped 12 percent in 2025, fuelled by the new Kai Tak Sports Park and a packed calendar of concerts and tournaments. Over Christmas the city handled record crowds, prompting enhanced e-Channel operations. The boom improves Hong Kong’s appeal for corporate events but tightens venue availability for 2026.