Hong Kong’s catering industry suffered a drop in business of more than 10 percent on Christmas Eve, with a tourism association estimating that a third of the city’s population chose to spend the festive holiday in mainland China or abroad, an industry leader said.
Estimated trading volume in the sector on Sunday reached HK$380 million (US$48.6 million), 11 percent lower than the recorded figure of 430, Simon Wong Ka Wu, president of the Hong Kong Restaurant and Related Trade Association, said on Monday. One million Hong Kong dollars. last year.
He also expected a similar turnover on Christmas Day.
“The decline is quite clear,” he told a radio programme. “On Christmas Eve, many people travel to the mainland or abroad. Residents also enjoy a long Christmas weekend.
Wong added that in the past, hotel restaurants were fully booked on Christmas Eve two to three weeks in advance, but some were welcoming incoming customers this year.
Immigration figures showed that Hong Kong made more than 2.8 million inbound and outbound flights between Friday and Sunday, resulting in a net inflow of more than 633,000 flights.
Hong Kong made more than 1 million inbound and outbound flights on Christmas Eve, representing a net outflow of more than 219,000 flights.
Hong Kong malls are avoiding a one-size-fits-all strategy over the Christmas holidays
Hong Kong malls are avoiding a one-size-fits-all strategy over the Christmas holidays
A breakdown of the figures showed that Hong Kong residents made more than 458,000 foreign trips on Sunday, of which about 44,500 trips were made to the city’s airport and 102,800 were recorded at the Lo Wu border crossing.
The city handled more than 353,000 departures and more than 175,500 inbound flights by 4pm on Christmas Day.
Wong added that many of those who stayed in Hong Kong for the holiday had relatively weaker spending power compared to those who traveled abroad.
He said the industry is also facing a decline in the number of mainland tourists coming to Hong Kong for Christmas, even as more from the city head across the border.
Timothy Choi Ting Pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, estimated at the same presentation that about a third of residents had decided to travel over the Christmas holiday.
Hong Kong’s population is about 7.5 million.
Hong Kong residents enjoy a fireworks display on Christmas Eve to beat the cold
Hong Kong residents enjoy a fireworks display on Christmas Eve to beat the cold
Choi also highlighted the popularity of nearby mainland cities, such as those in Guangdong and Guizhou provinces, and said the number of people signing up for short trips has exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
“Tour fees have increased slightly compared to pre-pandemic levels,” he added. “The cost has risen on the mainland and in Hong Kong, but mainland flights are still great value for money.”
A three-day trip to the northern edges of Guangdong and Hunan provinces to enjoy the snow could cost about HK$1,000, but regional hotspots like Taipei and Tokyo were more expensive, especially with airfare costs, Choi said.
He also stressed that Christmas is not an official cross-border holiday and that some mainland Chinese may come to Hong Kong for shorter trips to enjoy the festive atmosphere.