Hong Kong’s borders were stretched to their limits during this year’s nine-day Lunar New Year holiday as more than 1.02 million travellers from mainland China entered the city, according to Immigration Department tallies released late on 22 February. That marks a 13 percent jump on last year’s comparable period and the highest single-holiday inflow since all pandemic curbs were lifted in early 2024.
Traffic was brisk across every land, rail and sea checkpoint, yet the busiest arteries remained the classic ones: Lo Wu processed 122,000 arrivals on the holiday’s penultimate day, while Shenzhen Bay and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line nearly matched those figures. West Kowloon Station—gateway to the high-speed rail—handled 81,000 inbound passengers in a single day, underscoring the popularity of door-to-door train services for family visits and shopping sprees.
If you’re planning a visit of your own, VisaHQ can streamline the entry process by guiding you through online applications for Hong Kong visas and travel permits. The firm’s step-by-step platform cuts paperwork headaches and supports dozens of other destinations as well; learn more at https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/
![Spring-Festival Travel Boom Delivers 1.02 Million Mainland Arrivals to Hong Kong]()
Retailers and hoteliers quickly felt the impact. The Hong Kong Tourism Board said average hotel occupancy exceeded 90 percent, roughly 8 percentage points higher than last year, while the Federation of Hong Kong Industries reported double-digit sales growth in cosmetics, jewellery and luxury goods—a key barometer of tourism spending.
Business groups welcomed the surge but warned of structural issues ahead. Staffing at border control points, particularly for peak evening trains, remains tight despite extra counters and the diversion of non-essential leave. The Travel Industry Council called for an accelerated roll-out of fully contactless e-Channels and, longer term, completion of the Northern Link rail spur to ease chronic congestion at Lo Wu.
For global mobility managers, the numbers highlight Hong Kong’s rebound as a dual business-and-leisure hub. High visitor inflows translate into better flight connectivity, but also longer wait times and pricier hotel blocks during Chinese holidays. Companies planning regional meetings or short-term assignments in early-year windows should secure travel inventory well in advance and consider Macao or Shenzhen spill-over accommodation as pressure valves.
Traffic was brisk across every land, rail and sea checkpoint, yet the busiest arteries remained the classic ones: Lo Wu processed 122,000 arrivals on the holiday’s penultimate day, while Shenzhen Bay and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line nearly matched those figures. West Kowloon Station—gateway to the high-speed rail—handled 81,000 inbound passengers in a single day, underscoring the popularity of door-to-door train services for family visits and shopping sprees.
If you’re planning a visit of your own, VisaHQ can streamline the entry process by guiding you through online applications for Hong Kong visas and travel permits. The firm’s step-by-step platform cuts paperwork headaches and supports dozens of other destinations as well; learn more at https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/
Retailers and hoteliers quickly felt the impact. The Hong Kong Tourism Board said average hotel occupancy exceeded 90 percent, roughly 8 percentage points higher than last year, while the Federation of Hong Kong Industries reported double-digit sales growth in cosmetics, jewellery and luxury goods—a key barometer of tourism spending.
Business groups welcomed the surge but warned of structural issues ahead. Staffing at border control points, particularly for peak evening trains, remains tight despite extra counters and the diversion of non-essential leave. The Travel Industry Council called for an accelerated roll-out of fully contactless e-Channels and, longer term, completion of the Northern Link rail spur to ease chronic congestion at Lo Wu.
For global mobility managers, the numbers highlight Hong Kong’s rebound as a dual business-and-leisure hub. High visitor inflows translate into better flight connectivity, but also longer wait times and pricier hotel blocks during Chinese holidays. Companies planning regional meetings or short-term assignments in early-year windows should secure travel inventory well in advance and consider Macao or Shenzhen spill-over accommodation as pressure valves.
