Hong Kong is seeing an increasing number of Kiwis, a trend it attributes to its events and family-friendly offerings, and going ahead it is looking to maintain this momentum, especially in regards to business events and incentives.
Data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board shows 84,000 New Zealanders visited Hong Kong last year, up 27% year-on-year, with Dec proving the most popular month with some 11,000 Kiwis exploring the destination.
Globally, HKTB reported provisional full-year visitor arrivals for 2025 reached 49.9 million, a 12% year-on year increase.
HKTB’s director for Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific Karen Macmillan attributes the growth to its events calendar, highlighting Chinese New Year, the Hong Kong Sevens event in Mar, and the annual Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival in Oct.
Its reputation as a family-friendly destination also played a role, with Macmillan saying school holiday periods also performed strongly in the New Zealand market.
. . . MICE
Last year Australasian MICE arrivals to Hong Kong were up 10% year-on-year. And Macmillan says the local MICE and trade team, led by Karen Prideaux in Sydney, is registering an increased number of inquiries from this region. “This market recognises that Hong Kong’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, East meets-West culture and elevated dining experiences make the destination highly desirable for meetings, conferences, events and incentives,” she says.
Connectivity also helps, with direct fights to Hong Kong available from both Auckland and Christchurch. The HKTB recently released the Hong Kong incentive Playbook 2.0, a guide featuring more than 200 unique and authentic ideas for incentive groups and attended AIME in Melbourne to help maintain this growth. Its gm mega events, MICE and cruise Marilyn Tham says she is confident this positive momentum will continue.
“Together with our enhanced infra structure, a year-round calendar of world-class events and world-renowned nightlife and gourmet experiences, I believe Hong Kong is an ideal MICE destination that can help every event to achieve more,” Tham says. See the playbook HERE and more on Hong Kong HERE.
