The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) recently wrapped up its annual Hong Kong Travel Mission in India, held from August 20 to 23 across Mumbai, Chennai, and New Delhi. The mission brought together a 36-member delegation representing key Hong Kong stakeholders, including renowned attractions, theme parks, luxury hotels, destination management companies, airlines, and cruise lines.
The delegation engaged with over 500 Indian trade partners, encompassing agents from smaller cities within the three major metropolitan areas. The event highlighted the substantial growth in tourism from India to Hong Kong, fueled by the destination’s visa-free entry policy and convenient direct flight options.
Between January and June of this year, Hong Kong welcomed 21 million visitors, with a remarkable 181,000 of them hailing from India, reflecting an impressive 155% year-on-year increase. The majority of Indian tourists were aged between 26-35 (24%) and 36-45 (29%), with 31% traveling for leisure. Notably, over 15% of these visitors came from tier 2 cities, while the rest originated from tier 1 cities.
Among Indian visitors, popular attractions included Hong Kong Disneyland, Temple Street/Ladies’ Market, Ocean Park, The Peak, and Tsim Sha Tsui. Ngong Ping 360 and Sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck also proved to be highly sought-after experiences.
Hong Kong’s MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector also demonstrated robust performance, drawing approximately 700,000 MICE visitors in the first half of the year. To further enhance its appeal, the HKTB introduced the “Hong Kong Incentive Playbook.” This comprehensive guide offers over 100 group experiences across five distinct themes, solidifying Hong Kong’s position as a premier destination for incentive travel.
