Chan Mo-po: A series of grand events gather in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong continues to expand high-value-added convention and exhibition tourism

China News Service, Hong Kong, November 8th. Financial Secretary Paul Chan of the Hong Kong SAR Government published a blog on the 8th, saying that in the past week, a number of financial summits and international exhibitions have been held in Hong Kong, attracting industry leaders and tourists from all over the world. The SAR government will continue to vigorously promote major events in different fields and improve supporting facilities to make the high-value-added tourism and convention and exhibition industries more prosperous.

Chan Mo-po pointed out that recent events not only bring together people and business opportunities, but also extend Hong Kong’s role as a “super contact” and “super value-added person” from finance and trade to lifestyle and experience, promoting exchanges, creating value, and injecting significant impetus into Hong Kong’s local economy.

He said that investment summits, financial conferences and lifestyle exhibitions have been held in Hong Kong one after another, which has exerted a good linkage effect. Business travelers who come to participate in Fintech Week can stay a few extra days to visit exhibitions and experience Hong Kong; buyers who come to Hong Kong for purchase can also enjoy concerts and taste fine wines and delicacies with their families. One major event after another allows visitors to stay in Hong Kong longer and spend more, benefiting the hotel, catering, retail and other service industries more broadly.

He said that through hard work in recent years, the number of exhibitions held in Hong Kong and the number of high-value-added tourists visiting Hong Kong have increased. In 2025, there will be more than 360 convention and exhibition events held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center and AsiaWorld-Expo, attracting 7.7 million participants; the number of convention and exhibition visitors to Hong Kong will reach 2.51 million, a year-on-year increase of 7%, of which about 60% stayed overnight in Hong Kong.

He mentioned that according to industry research, the per capita consumption of international exhibition visitors is about HK$9,300, which is about 70% higher than that of ordinary overnight visitors. The study also estimates that the exhibition industry will bring more than HK$50 billion in economic benefits to Hong Kong in 2024 and create about 67,000 full-time jobs, injecting momentum into the overall economy.

He said that after the completion of the second phase of AsiaWorld-Expo and the Wan Chai North reconstruction project, Hong Kong's large-scale convention and exhibition space will increase by more than 40%, providing a broader stage for different organizers to realize more new ideas. The Hong Kong Tourism Board will continue to work with the industry and different organizations to design more unique experiences and services tailored for high value-added tourists.