The Travel Industry Council (TIC) predicts outbound package tours will edge slightly above last year’s level to about 1,400 groups over the Easter long weekend, even though airlines raised fuel surcharges by as much as 24% in March. SCMP quoted TIC executive director Fanny Yeung as saying 60 per cent of residents heading overseas are actually bound for neighbouring mainland cities, reflecting high-speed rail’s growing appeal. Hotel bookings in Bangkok, Osaka and Taipei—traditional short-haul favourites—are noticeably weaker than 2019 norms, suggesting price-sensitive travellers are pivoting to cheaper or rail-connected options.
![Travel trade expects record outbound numbers despite surging fuel surcharges]()
Amid these changing travel patterns, VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) offers travellers and corporate planners a quick way to check visa rules, file applications online and track approvals for more than 200 destinations—helping ensure that last-minute shifts from air to rail, or switches in regional meeting venues, aren’t tripped up by documentation surprises.
Inbound tourism, however, is not expected to see a major bump; mainland visitor spending remains subdued and hotel occupancy is still hovering around 70 per cent. For corporates, the message is two-fold: secure regional air tickets early or risk paying a premium, and factor in rail alternatives for staff shuttling between Hong Kong and their Greater Bay Area offices. Companies in the MICE sector should also monitor booking windows; Easter-period venue enquiries were 18 per cent shorter than in 2025, according to TIC data. Yeung added that Middle-East tour demand has collapsed amid the Iran–Israel conflict, causing agencies to cancel most departures until at least October.
Amid these changing travel patterns, VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) offers travellers and corporate planners a quick way to check visa rules, file applications online and track approvals for more than 200 destinations—helping ensure that last-minute shifts from air to rail, or switches in regional meeting venues, aren’t tripped up by documentation surprises.
Inbound tourism, however, is not expected to see a major bump; mainland visitor spending remains subdued and hotel occupancy is still hovering around 70 per cent. For corporates, the message is two-fold: secure regional air tickets early or risk paying a premium, and factor in rail alternatives for staff shuttling between Hong Kong and their Greater Bay Area offices. Companies in the MICE sector should also monitor booking windows; Easter-period venue enquiries were 18 per cent shorter than in 2025, according to TIC data. Yeung added that Middle-East tour demand has collapsed amid the Iran–Israel conflict, causing agencies to cancel most departures until at least October.
