Hong Kong Aims to Revitalize Tourism by Attracting High-Spending Visitors

Two sisters from southwestern China recently spent less than half a day exploring Hong Kong, packing their sightseeing into under 12 hours.

Hu Di, a 30-year-old banker, and her 20-year-old sister Hu Ke, a university student, visited iconic spots in the Central business district, enjoyed local beef noodles, took photos at a waterfront promenade during sunset, and admired the city’s dazzling nighttime skyline. Their purchases were minimal, limited to medicinal oils and vintage comics, with total spending below $150 before returning to the mainland for the night.

These sisters exemplify a growing phenomenon among mainland Chinese visitors known as 'special forces tourists'—travelers who prioritize brief, budget-conscious visits to Hong Kong.

While mainland Chinese tourists have historically accounted for over 75% of visitors to Hong Kong and were once major purchasers of luxury goods like watches, handbags, and designer apparel, their current spending habits reflect shorter stays and more restrained budgets. This shift poses a significant hurdle for Hong Kong as it strives to revive its tourism sector, which has been severely impacted by years of political unrest, pandemic-related restrictions, and international concerns over the city’s tightened security measures.

Once promoted as Asia’s World City, Hong Kong is now repositioning itself as the region’s events capital, focusing on attracting visitors through concerts, trade fairs, and large-scale gatherings rather than relying solely on shopping tourism to drive economic recovery.

A centerpiece of this strategy is the newly opened $4 billion sports park built on the site of the former Kai Tak Airport. The park features a striking purple-themed stadium equipped with air conditioning under every one of its 50,000 seats. The venue nearly reached full capacity during the annual Rugby Sevens tournament held in late March, signaling strong potential for drawing crowds to future events.