Hong Kong is expected to record 53.8 million visitor arrivals this year, an 8 per cent rise over 2025, the tourism minister has revealed.
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui also said on Friday that a new light show replacing the 22-year-old “A Symphony of Lights” would be launched in key sightseeing spots, such as The Peak, as early as the second half of this year.
The projected 53.8 million arrivals represents an 8 per cent year-on-year increase over the 49.9 million recorded in 2025.
In January, the city recorded 4.81 million visitor arrivals, marking a 1 per cent increase against a year ago, with 76 per cent of them coming from mainland China.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday’s budget, Law stopped short of explaining the basis for the higher projection but added more details would be provided when the Tourism Board released its overview for the year in March.
Neighbouring Macau’s tourism industry was also enjoying a renewed vitality, with the city welcoming a record number of visitors in 2025, an official told industry leaders at an event attended by the South China Morning Post.
Macau Government Tourism Office Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said the city recorded 40.07 million visitor arrivals last year, up by 14.7 per cent from 2024, and higher than the pre-pandemic peak of 39.4 million in 2019.
“We have surpassed our pre-pandemic figures, breaking through the 40-million-visitor psychological barrier,” she said.
According to year-end data released by the Statistics and Census Service of Macau and the city’s police, the mainland was the biggest source of visitors, accounting for 72.4 per cent of the total, while Hong Kong came second at 18.2 per cent with 7.3 million.
“So, on average, did every single person in Hong Kong visit us at least once last year?” Senna Fernandes joked, referring to the city’s population of around 7.5 million.
While Hong Kong’s 49.9 million visitor arrivals in 2025 was a 12 per cent increase over the previous year, the figure was still about 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, with about 56 million recorded in 2019.
Law also revealed the show set to replace “A Symphony of Lights” would build on last year’s “Immersive Light Show in Central”, which featured dynamic 3D projections and adaptable themes.
“Over the past 20 years, ‘A Symphony of Lights’ has been optimised and updated many times, but relying solely on laser performances from buildings has become somewhat insufficient,” she said.
“After gathering feedback over the past year, we have decided not to allocate resources for major modifications to it.”
Law added authorities would organise special farewell events to mark the end of the show.
The Tourism Board was exploring light festival attractions that could be staged in popular tourist spots, with The Peak cited as a one site that could draw repeat visits, Law said.
“The Peak is a place many tourists go to on their first trip to Hong Kong,” she noted.
Law said the new events would align with festive periods, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival and Halloween, to maximise their impact and encourage repeat visits.
“I’ve often said lately, [it’s about the] fear of missing out – if the light shows are only tied to festivals or special themes, you won’t see it if you don’t come to Hong Kong at that time,” she said.
Law said the government would reveal further details about the show, including its expected cost, later.
“We have to be very responsive, so authorities will not wait five or 10 years to review – we have to make adjustments all the time to keep pace,” she said. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
