Wednesday, December 25, 2024 Hong Kong saw a significant increase in arrivals in the days leading up to Christmas Eve, with nearly 300,000 more visitors compared to the same period last year. This uptick was largely fueled by Hong Kong residents returning home via the six land checkpoints connected with Shenzhen. According to the Immigration Department, over 994,000 people entered the city on December 22 and 23, 2024, compared to about 697,000 during the corresponding days in 2023.
Of these, approximately 489,000 were returning residents, nearly half of the total arrivals. This marked a significant rise from 37% in 2023, when returning residents numbered about 259,000. Despite the overall growth in arrivals, the number of mainland Chinese tourists decreased slightly, falling from 240,000 in 2023 to 233,000 this year.
During the same two-day period, approximately 1.09 million people left Hong Kong, with Hong Kong residents making up 70% of the total. This figure was slightly lower than the 1.
11 million departures recorded last year. On Christmas Eve, crowds gathered at popular festive spots, including Tsim Sha Tsui and Lan Kwai Fong, as well as the West Kowloon Cultural District for the Winter Harbourfront Pyrotechnics display. The fireworks, which illuminated the night sky in festive red and green, drew cheers from onlookers despite some finding the event overcrowded.
The city’s Christmas attractions, such as the decorated streets of Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai, drew both lo.
