Tourism industry insiders linked the 19% rise to the expansion of air routes and major events. Hong Kong Airlines received approval to run scheduled flights to Belgrade in Serbia and Zagreb in Croatia. Cathay Pacific also plans to start direct flights to Almaty in January, its first route to Central Asia.

Mega events also helped. The Hong Kong Football Festival 2026 and the TMElive International Music Awards attracted visitors from the United Kingdom and other long‑haul markets.

Hong Kong recorded 40.7 million visitors in the first nine months of 2026, a 12% increase from the previous year. The city expects 53.8 million tourists by the end of the year, which would be a 7.8% rise.