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ENHANCING the city’s appeal as a tourism destination and a host for large-scale sports and cultural events is a key focus of the First Five-Year Plan for the Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) for 2026–2030, as well as the 2026 Policy Address.
According to Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee recently outlined measures to support the integrated development of culture, sports, and tourism, aiming to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an international cultural exchange hub where East meets West.
“These measures include increasing the availability of high-quality tourism products, strengthening infrastructure and supporting facilities, and deepening engagement with markets in Mainland China and across the globe,” he said.
Lee explained that Hong Kong possesses a unique cultural vision shaped by both Chinese and foreign influences. “We will continue to build relationships and collaborate with the cultural, arts, and creative sectors in Mainland China and overseas to reinforce Hong Kong’s role as a hub for the exchange, collaboration, and promotion of culture, arts, and creativity.
“We will also host international cultural and arts exhibitions and performances to attract visitors to Hong Kong. To support the local film industry and promote the ‘Film + Tourism’ concept, a Support Unit for Non-local Film Productions will be established to provide one-stop services for film crews from Mainland China and abroad shooting in Hong Kong,” he stated.
Lee added that this initiative is expected to attract more high-quality film productions while promoting Hong Kong. The Kai Tak Sports Park has significantly boosted Hong Kong’s capacity to host major international mega-events. To date, more than 170 large-scale sports, cultural, and entertainment events—both international and local—have been held at the venue, attracting over 2.6 million spectators.
Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government will review plans to redevelop the Victoria Park Centre Court and its supporting facilities into an iconic, multi-purpose, all-weather venue. Once completed, the venue will be capable of hosting high-level, large-scale sports events and various performance activities.
Rosanna Law, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, also highlighted the growing trend of multi-destination travel. Law noted that Hong Kong welcomed approximately 36.67 million visitor arrivals during the first eight months of 2026, an increase of about 11 percent compared to the same period the previous year.
“The proportion of international visitors continuing their journeys to the Mainland via Hong Kong has steadily risen, reaching over 20 percent in the first half of 2026,” she said.
The HKSAR Government will continue to leverage policies introduced by the Central Government to facilitate visits by foreign tourists to the Mainland. The government also intends to deepen cooperation with various Mainland provinces and cities and explore—jointly with the Central Government—additional arrangements to streamline immigration processes for international tourists.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will promote multi-destination itineraries to international visitors, collaborate with airlines to launch relevant tourism products and promotional offers, and intensify promotional activities in international markets.
The HKTB will also continue its “+ Tourism” initiatives, integrating various activities with the tourism sector to enhance its appeal. These measures aim to encourage tourists to extend their stays in Hong Kong while creating added value for the economy. The initiative will integrate tourism with mega-events, ecology, cultural heritage, finance, and industry brands.
Regarding the development of the yacht economy, Lee stated that several projects to build new yacht berths are currently underway. These include a tender for an integrated development project in Aberdeen—comprising a marina, recreational facilities, and a residential area—scheduled for the first half of 2027. Additionally, there is a yacht bay project that forms part of the “SKYTOPIA” Airport City development.
“Furthermore, starting in May, yachts from Hong Kong and Macau will be able to sail to nine cities within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, with exemptions from bond requirements and the use of temporary vessel nationality registration,” Lee concluded. [sources/special photo]
