Hong Kong’s tourism sector is gearing up for its busiest festive period since the pandemic after the Travel Industry Council (TIC) projected a 6 percent year-on-year rise in mainland Chinese visitors during the 15–23 February Lunar New Year “golden week.” In comments published on 3 February 2026, TIC executive director Fanny Yeung said as many as 1.4 million mainlanders could enter the city over the nine-day holiday, accompanied by 2,600 tour groups.(scmp.com)
Ticket data support the bullish outlook: high-speed rail seats from Guangzhou and Shenzhen sold out within hours of release, while airlines have added extra flights from Shanghai and Chengdu. Hoteliers report forward bookings above 90 percent occupancy, helped by the government’s “Hello Hong Kong 2.0” events calendar and a new fireworks show sponsored by the Jockey Club.(scmp.com)
![Travel Industry Council forecasts 1.4 million mainland arrivals for Lunar New Year]()
The anticipated surge will test cross-border infrastructure. The Immigration Department plans to run Shenzhen Bay Control Point round-the-clock from 9–13 February and extend Lo Wu operating hours to 2 a.m. on peak days, repeating measures used successfully over Christmas. Travellers are advised to use e-Channel gates and consult the mobile-app wait-time tracker to avoid bottlenecks. Travel agents are urging tour leaders to stagger coach departures and pre-book meal slots to prevent crowding.(immd.gov.hk)
For visitors who discover they still need a permit or wish to tack on side trips, VisaHQ offers a quick, fully online service to obtain Hong Kong entry documents and onward visas to Macau or mainland China. Its user-friendly dashboard is equally handy for travel managers overseeing large groups; more details are available at https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/
For businesses, the influx means fuller flights and higher hotel rates—TIC estimates average room prices will rise 8–10 percent versus last year. Employers should lock in accommodation early for visiting staff and remind assignees to carry sufficient proof of onward travel if they plan side trips to Macao or Shenzhen. Retailers, particularly in Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay, are staffing up to capture the spending spike, with the Hong Kong Retail Management Association predicting sales could top HK$5.7 billion during the period.
Ticket data support the bullish outlook: high-speed rail seats from Guangzhou and Shenzhen sold out within hours of release, while airlines have added extra flights from Shanghai and Chengdu. Hoteliers report forward bookings above 90 percent occupancy, helped by the government’s “Hello Hong Kong 2.0” events calendar and a new fireworks show sponsored by the Jockey Club.(scmp.com)
The anticipated surge will test cross-border infrastructure. The Immigration Department plans to run Shenzhen Bay Control Point round-the-clock from 9–13 February and extend Lo Wu operating hours to 2 a.m. on peak days, repeating measures used successfully over Christmas. Travellers are advised to use e-Channel gates and consult the mobile-app wait-time tracker to avoid bottlenecks. Travel agents are urging tour leaders to stagger coach departures and pre-book meal slots to prevent crowding.(immd.gov.hk)
For visitors who discover they still need a permit or wish to tack on side trips, VisaHQ offers a quick, fully online service to obtain Hong Kong entry documents and onward visas to Macau or mainland China. Its user-friendly dashboard is equally handy for travel managers overseeing large groups; more details are available at https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/
For businesses, the influx means fuller flights and higher hotel rates—TIC estimates average room prices will rise 8–10 percent versus last year. Employers should lock in accommodation early for visiting staff and remind assignees to carry sufficient proof of onward travel if they plan side trips to Macao or Shenzhen. Retailers, particularly in Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay, are staffing up to capture the spending spike, with the Hong Kong Retail Management Association predicting sales could top HK$5.7 billion during the period.
