Hong Kong's Five-Year Plan Aims to Boost Tourism Appeal with Culture, Sports, and Multi-Destination Travel

Hong Kong is positioning itself to strengthen its tourism industry through a comprehensive strategy that integrates culture, sports, and tourism, as outlined in the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) and the 2026 Policy Address, announced by Chief Executive John Lee on September 16. The plan aims to develop Hong Kong as an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange, a move that could solidify its status as a global tourism hub and drive economic growth through increased visitor spending and longer stays. The strategy includes enriching high-quality tourism products, bolstering infrastructure, and deepening engagement with markets in the Chinese Mainland and worldwide.

At the core of the initiative is the integrated development of culture, sports, and tourism. Chief Executive Lee emphasized Hong Kong's unique cultural vision shaped by Chinese and foreign influences, stating, "We will continue to engage and collaborate with Mainland and overseas culture, arts and creative sectors to consolidate 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 film industry and promote "Film + Tourism," a Support Unit for Non-local Film Productions will be established to provide one-stop services for Mainland and overseas film crews, attracting more quality productions to showcase Hong Kong.

The Kai Tak Sports Park has already demonstrated significant capacity for mega events, hosting over 170 sessions of international and local sports and cultural entertainment events, attracting more than 2.6 million spectators. The government will explore redeveloping Victoria Park Centre Court and other ancillary facilities into an iconic all-weather, multi-purpose venue for larger-scale sports and performance activities. These developments are expected to enhance Hong Kong's ability to compete for global events, generating economic benefits and reinforcing its image as a dynamic destination.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Rosanna Law, highlighted the growing trend of multi-destination tourism. Hong Kong welcomed around 36.67 million visitor arrivals in the first eight months of 2026, an 11% year-on-year increase. "The proportion of overseas visitors travelling onwards to the Chinese Mainland via Hong Kong has continued to rise, exceeding 20% in the first half of 2026," Law said. The government will capitalize on Central Government measures to facilitate foreign visits to the Mainland, deepen collaboration with Mainland provinces, and explore additional immigration facilitation arrangements. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will promote multi-destination itineraries, partner with airlines, and intensify overseas publicity. It will also advance "+ Tourism" joint initiatives, integrating tourism with mega events, ecology, heritage, finance, and industrial brands to extend visitor stays and generate value.

On the yacht economy, Lee announced new berth projects, including the Aberdeen composite development tender scheduled for the first half of 2027 and the yacht bay project under Airport City "SKYTOPIA." Starting May, Hong Kong and Macao yachts may navigate in nine Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities with guarantee exemption and temporary ship nationality registration. The first northbound yacht travel from Hong Kong set sail in June, and the Marine Department will soon sign a memorandum of understanding with the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration for southbound travel, boosting cross-boundary leisure consumption. To enhance Muslim-friendly tourism, the HKTB will extend the Hong Kong Restaurants Halal Certification Funding Scheme to the end of 2027.

These measures collectively underscore Hong Kong's commitment to diversifying its tourism offerings and reinforcing its role as a premier international destination, with potential ripple effects across related industries and the broader economy. For more information, visit Brand Hong Kong.