Sports fever sparks spike in tourism in Hong Kong

Tourism in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is surging on the back of the 15th National Games being held from Nov 9 to 21.

As one of the three co-hosts of the games, together with Guangdong province and the Macao SAR, Hong Kong will stage elite sports events such as basketball, track cycling, triathlon and golf, which are anticipated to draw in crowds.

Hotel bookings, attraction visits and sales of games' merchandise have all seen a spike in early November, said industry insiders.

Hotel demand has risen year-on-year, with citywide occupancy hitting about 70 percent by mid-November, according to Timothy Chui, executive director of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong.

Christina Cheng, general manager of the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong, has noticed a marked increase in guests. "We believe the tourism uplift brought about by the National Games will extend beyond the immediate period and generate a steady, positive impact," she said.

"Roughly 35 percent of our guests are currently from the Chinese mainland," Cheng added.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has estimated that the games would attract more than 100,000 additional visitors to the city.

Travel businesses have moved quickly to tailor services, with operators widening offerings beyond simple ticketing to include transportation, non-competition itineraries and centralized hotel reservations, said Chui from the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong.

China Travel Service (Hong Kong) has launched combo tickets linking the games' rugby sevens events with visits to Ocean Park, or fencing tickets with Ngong Ping 360 cable car rides.

"The National Games have deepened integration across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao," said Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui. "Guangdong agencies are offering 'Follow the National Games, Tour the Greater Bay Area' routes — diving in Guangdong today, table tennis in Macao tomorrow, fencing in Hong Kong the next day — bringing 'one trip, multiple destinations' to life. And with November being Hong Kong's peak season, visitors will have a wealth of options."

Liu Jiapeng, a public affairs manager at travel portal Trip.com Group, said the games have lifted travel search interest across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao region, with particularly noticeable jumps in queries for hotels near competition venues in Macao and for attractions such as Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park.

Official merchandise is also selling briskly.

Hong Kong Post Office, one of the licensed retailers, reported that products blending mascot designs and local cultural elements were especially popular. These included blind-box plush toys created for the Hong Kong events, tote bags printed with the mascots, keychains featuring magnetic table tennis rackets, and pins and magnets showcasing the city's iconic landmarks.

Each event brings more than ticket revenue, Law added, it activates the entire value chain — from staging and security to catering, hospitality and retail — supporting thousands of jobs. "This truly fulfills the idea of 'one event, benefiting the entire city'. The live broadcasts of many events also showcase Hong Kong's major attractions, offering a prime opportunity to highlight the city's tourism appeal."

akirawang@chinadailyhk.com