TOURISM BOOM. HKTB executive director Dane Cheng during the “Juan in a Million” reception at Shangri-La The Fort on Wednesday night (Feb. 5, 2025). It celebrates the one millionth Filipino tourist to Hong Kong. (PNA photo by Joyce Rocamora)
By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
MANILA – The Philippines remains as a key tourism market for Hong Kong as it attracts some 1.2 million Filipino travelers in 2024, the highest among its visitors from Southeast Asia.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) said this number makes up nearly half of the 2.4 million arrivals it received from the region.
“This is a record-breaking achievement and we are thrilled to know that Hong Kong last year is the top travel destination for the Filipinos,” HKTB executive director Dane Cheng said during a reception in Taguig City recently.
“As we look forward to 2025, we have no intention of slowing down — we remain committed to staying one step ahead and providing visitors with a million reasons to explore Hong Kong,” he added.
The HKTB said Southeast Asia is Hong Kong’s fastest-recovering visitor source market, which has shown robust growth since the city fully reopened to international travelers. In 2024, visitor numbers from the region rebounded to around 95% of pre-pandemic levels.
Last November, Hong Kong welcomed its one millionth visitor from the Philippines — Miguel Linao, along with his wife Ana and their three children.
Also present at the reception, Miguel shared that his family had been a repeat visitor of the city even prior to the pandemic. He described Hong Kong as a destination that “has something for everyone.”
“My wife and I, we love the food and the modern vibe of Hong Kong. For our kids, of course, there’s the theme parks. So, we just endlessly walk around the city, get lost in it, but then it’s also easy to find your way back,” he said.
“We also find Hong Kong to be home of one of the best culinary experiences in the world. There are so many restaurants to choose from — So, indeed there’s something for everyone. And I think we have barely scratched the surface” he added.
Visitors from Southeast Asia, HKTB said, stay an average of 3.4 nights while spending around 7,100 HK dollars per person.
Their top three attractions are theme parks, markets such as Temple Street and Ladies’ Market, and the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade including the Avenue of Stars, the Clock Tower, and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
Hong Kong received a total of 44.5 million arrivals in 2024, more than half are from mainland China. (With PNA)
