GCC visitors to Hong Kong surge...

H1 2024 saw 124% increase in visitors year-on-year

Hong Kong welcomed more than 19,000 visitors from the Gulf region between January and August 2024.

The growth represents a 124% increase compared to the same period in 2023, reflecting Hong Kong’s growing reputation as a popular destination for luxury travellers in the Middle East.

The insights were released as the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) concluded its first 2024 Travel Mission to the GCC event, during which it engaged travel partners from the UAE and Saudi in Dubai and Riyadh.

The roadshow featured a delegation of 30 key Hong Kong trade partners, including representatives from iconic attractions, luxury hotels and destination management companies (DMCs).

Hong Kong delegation

The event attracted more than 200 travel agents from across the GCC, providing them with an understanding of Hong Kong's premium offerings tailored for affluent travellers.

Puneet Kumar, Director of South Asia & Middle East at HKTB, said: “We are pleased with the strong recovery in GCC visitor numbers, which underscores the region’s growing interest in Hong Kong’s offerings.

“From luxury shopping and dining to rich cultural and heritage experiences, Hong Kong provides an array of unique attractions for GCC tourists. Our engagement with the travel trade fraternity in Riyadh and Dubai gave us the confidence that we will be able to attract more visitors to Hong Kong, with their strong support.

“We are dedicated to ensuring travellers’ travel experiences are memorable, and we look forward to welcoming even more visitors from the region.”

Buyers and sellers in Riyadh

As part of its 2024-2025 tourism marketing strategy, HKTB aims to target families, experiential travellers, the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector and leisure travellers through various B2B and B2C activities, including destination workshops, e-learning, digital marketing and joint collaborations with travel agents, airlines and media.

In the coming months, Hong Kong will host several large-scale events, including the Hong Kong Taste Around Town festival, Winterfest and the New Year Countdown.

Additionally, cultural and sporting highlights such as Art Basel, Hong Kong Rugby Sevens and the Dragon Boat Races are expected to draw visitors from around the globe.

For Muslim travellers, Hong Kong offers a wide range of Halal food options, prayer room facilities and Muslim-friendly hotels, with resources available in English and Arabic on the Discover Hong Kong website.

Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways provide regular flights between Dubai, Doha and Hong Kong, while Cathay Pacific and other regional carriers offer direct connections. Cathay Pacific will be launching a direct flight from Riyadh to Hong Kong by the end of October 2024.

For more information, visit www.discoverhongkong.com

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