3.4 million tourists recorded in May
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Hong Kong welcomed nearly 3.4 million tourists in May, up 20 percent year-on-year, as some 18 million inbound tourists were recorded in the first five months of this year, up 80 percent over the same period last year, the Tourism Board announced.
Most visitors came from the mainland, at 2.63 million, a 15 percent increase from May 2023.
Non-mainland visitors also saw a 43 percent increase, with 770,000 arrivals.
Tourists from new markets increased the most by 116.8 percent year-on-year to over 62,000.
The Standard Channel
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Short-haul tourists increased 52.5 percent to almost 420,000, while long-haulers increased 41.6 percent to over 200,000
The May figures bring the cumulative number of inbound tourists to over 18 million in the first five months of the year, while mainland tourists increased 73.5 percent to almost 14 million.
Non-mainland tourists from January to May rose 93.5 percent to over 4.2 million.
Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong lawmaker Brave Chan Yung said his party hopes tourists are attracted to Hong Kong through martial arts culture, as Macau's MGM hotel is organizing a "Jin Yong Wuxia Drama Costumes and Weapons Exhibition."
Louis Cha Leung-yung, better known as Jin Yong, was a Chinese Wuxia novelist. Wuxia is a genre of Chinese fiction covering the adventures of ancient Chinese martial heroes.
"Hong Kong is the birthplace of these heroes, courtesy of Jin Yong and Liang Yusheng," Chan said, referring to Chen Wentong, a Chinese-born Australian novelist known for being a pioneer of the "new school" of the Wuxia genre in the 20th century.
"Hong Kong can go beyond 'tourism everywhere' to achieve 'Wuxia everywhere'," he said,referring to Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Xia Baolong's phrase.
Lawmaker and partymate Holden Chow Ho-ding said that Jin Yong's novel The Deer and the Cauldron attracted a global audience through its English translation.
With many adaptations of Jin Yong's novels, Chow said more events should be centered around Wuxia. "If Southeast Asian tourists visit Hong Kong, the city is bound to leave an impression."
Both lawmakers said Wuxia embodies the essence of Chinese culture through its display of heroism and greatness, which inspires younger generations.
When it comes to implementing Wuxia, Chan suggests looking toward the mainland and their proud display of culture.
"They may not have as many resources when it comes to destination marketing, but the officials wear traditional hero costumes, and promote Hanfu," Chan said.
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Hong Kong welcomed nearly 3.4 million tourists in May, up 20 percent year-on-year, as some 18 million inbound tourists were recorded in the first five months of this year, up 80 percent over the same period last year, the Tourism Board announced.
Most visitors came from the mainland, at 2.63 million, a 15 percent increase from May 2023.
Non-mainland visitors also saw a 43 percent increase, with 770,000 arrivals.
Tourists from new markets increased the most by 116.8 percent year-on-year to over 62,000.
The Standard Channel
[color][size][font]
Short-haul tourists increased 52.5 percent to almost 420,000, while long-haulers increased 41.6 percent to over 200,000
The May figures bring the cumulative number of inbound tourists to over 18 million in the first five months of the year, while mainland tourists increased 73.5 percent to almost 14 million.
Non-mainland tourists from January to May rose 93.5 percent to over 4.2 million.
Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong lawmaker Brave Chan Yung said his party hopes tourists are attracted to Hong Kong through martial arts culture, as Macau's MGM hotel is organizing a "Jin Yong Wuxia Drama Costumes and Weapons Exhibition."
Louis Cha Leung-yung, better known as Jin Yong, was a Chinese Wuxia novelist. Wuxia is a genre of Chinese fiction covering the adventures of ancient Chinese martial heroes.
"Hong Kong is the birthplace of these heroes, courtesy of Jin Yong and Liang Yusheng," Chan said, referring to Chen Wentong, a Chinese-born Australian novelist known for being a pioneer of the "new school" of the Wuxia genre in the 20th century.
"Hong Kong can go beyond 'tourism everywhere' to achieve 'Wuxia everywhere'," he said,referring to Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Xia Baolong's phrase.
Lawmaker and partymate Holden Chow Ho-ding said that Jin Yong's novel The Deer and the Cauldron attracted a global audience through its English translation.
With many adaptations of Jin Yong's novels, Chow said more events should be centered around Wuxia. "If Southeast Asian tourists visit Hong Kong, the city is bound to leave an impression."
Both lawmakers said Wuxia embodies the essence of Chinese culture through its display of heroism and greatness, which inspires younger generations.
When it comes to implementing Wuxia, Chan suggests looking toward the mainland and their proud display of culture.
"They may not have as many resources when it comes to destination marketing, but the officials wear traditional hero costumes, and promote Hanfu," Chan said.
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