Hong Kong Sees a 22% Surge in Visitors, Welcoming 4 Million in September Alone
Hong Kong’s tourism sector is roaring back to full strength, with the city welcoming an estimated 4.03 million visitors in September 2026. This is a dramatic 22% increase over the same month last year, according to preliminary data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB).
The surge was fueled by the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday and a packed calendar of festive citywide events that drew visitors from across the region. Arrivals from Mainland China alone reached approximately 3.17 million in September, marking a remarkable 29% year-on-year increase. Long-haul markets including France, Canada, and Australia also posted growth of 20% or more.
On a cumulative basis, Hong Kong has now welcomed 40.7 million visitors in the first nine months of 2026, up 12% from the same period last year. With the city targeting a full-year forecast of 53.8 million arrivals — an 8% increase over the 49.9 million recorded in all of 2025 — officials remain confident the destination is firmly on track to meet that ambitious goal, needing roughly 13.1 million more arrivals in the final quarter.
Furthermore, Hong Kong is also investing in new tourism infrastructure and experiences. The city has replaced its iconic 22-year-old ‘A Symphony of Lights’ show with fresh entertainment offerings, signaling a broader effort to reinvent the destination for a new generation of global travelers.
Source: Business Today – Hong Kong Visitor Arrivals Exceed 40 Million in First 9 Months