Updated figures released on 25 February show that Hong Kong welcomed 1.77 million visitors between 15 and 23 February—the nine-day Chinese New Year “Golden Week” on the mainland. According to the Immigration Department, arrivals were 14 percent higher than the same festive period in 2025, underscoring the territory’s tourism rebound. Of the total, 1.5 million were mainland residents, while 270,000 came from other markets.
![Chinese New Year sees 1.77 million visitors flock to Hong Kong, ImmD says]()
If you are planning a similar trip, VisaHQ can simplify the visa or entry-permit process before you go. The online service (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) offers digital applications, courier pickup and real-time status tracking, cutting paperwork time so visitors can focus on enjoying Hong Kong’s events and attractions.
West Kowloon High-Speed-Rail Station overtook Lo Wu as the busiest checkpoint, handling 210,000 mainland tourists on 18 February alone, reflecting a modal shift towards rail travel. An inter-departmental task force led by Chief Secretary Eric Chan credited smooth border operations to extra e-channels and extended opening hours at land ports. Hotel occupancy averaged 90 percent; luxury malls such as K11 MUSEA reported double-digit footfall and sales growth, with one jewellery purchase topping HK$2 million. Timothy Chui, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, said the data validate the government’s event-led tourism strategy and bode well for the HKTB’s new HK$1.66 billion marketing push. Retail groups, however, cautioned that outbound resident travel also hit record levels, slightly diluting net retail gains. For mobility planners, the surge affirms that cross-border queues are receding and that rail is becoming the preferred method for short-haul business entries from Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Companies scheduling February-March assignments should nevertheless monitor hotel rates, which are expected to stay elevated until Easter.
If you are planning a similar trip, VisaHQ can simplify the visa or entry-permit process before you go. The online service (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) offers digital applications, courier pickup and real-time status tracking, cutting paperwork time so visitors can focus on enjoying Hong Kong’s events and attractions.
West Kowloon High-Speed-Rail Station overtook Lo Wu as the busiest checkpoint, handling 210,000 mainland tourists on 18 February alone, reflecting a modal shift towards rail travel. An inter-departmental task force led by Chief Secretary Eric Chan credited smooth border operations to extra e-channels and extended opening hours at land ports. Hotel occupancy averaged 90 percent; luxury malls such as K11 MUSEA reported double-digit footfall and sales growth, with one jewellery purchase topping HK$2 million. Timothy Chui, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, said the data validate the government’s event-led tourism strategy and bode well for the HKTB’s new HK$1.66 billion marketing push. Retail groups, however, cautioned that outbound resident travel also hit record levels, slightly diluting net retail gains. For mobility planners, the surge affirms that cross-border queues are receding and that rail is becoming the preferred method for short-haul business entries from Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Companies scheduling February-March assignments should nevertheless monitor hotel rates, which are expected to stay elevated until Easter.
