Hong Kong is set to strengthen its position as a global tourism destination under the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development (2026-2030) and the 2026 Policy Address, announced by Chief Executive John Lee on September 16. The plan focuses on integrated development of culture, sports, and tourism to establish Hong Kong as an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange.
The government will enrich high-quality tourism products while upgrading infrastructure and deepening engagement with markets in the Chinese Mainland and worldwide. "Hong Kong is blessed with a unique cultural vision, shaped by both Chinese and foreign influences," Lee said. "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."
A key initiative is the establishment of a Support Unit for Non-local Film Productions to provide one-stop services for film crews, promoting "Film + Tourism" and attracting more quality productions to showcase Hong Kong. This move is expected to generate business opportunities for local service providers, from logistics to hospitality.
The Kai Tak Sports Park has already demonstrated Hong Kong's capacity for mega events, hosting over 170 international and local sports and cultural entertainment events that attracted more than 2.6 million spectators. The government will explore redeveloping Victoria Park Centre Court into an iconic all-weather, multi-purpose venue for larger-scale sports and performances, further boosting event tourism.
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 measures to facilitate foreign travellers' visits to the Mainland, deepen collaboration with Mainland provinces, and explore additional immigration facilitation. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will promote multi-destination itineraries, partner with airlines, and intensify overseas publicity.
The "+ Tourism" initiatives will integrate events with tourism across sectors such as mega events, ecology, heritage, finance, and industrial brands, aiming to extend visitor stays and generate value. In the yacht economy, new berth projects are progressing, including a tender for a composite development in Aberdeen scheduled for the first half of 2027 and the yacht bay project under Airport City "SKYTOPIA." Starting May, Hong Kong and Macao yachts can navigate in nine Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities with guarantee exemptions, and the first northbound yacht travel set sail in June. The Marine Department will soon sign a memorandum with the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration for southbound travel, boosting cross-boundary leisure consumption.
To enhance appeal as a Muslim-friendly destination, the HKTB will extend the Hong Kong Restaurants Halal Certification Funding Scheme to the end of 2027, encouraging more Muslim-friendly food options. For more information on Hong Kong's initiatives, visit https://www.brandhk.gov.hk/.
These developments are set to have significant implications for the business services industry. The expansion of tourism infrastructure, mega events, and multi-destination travel will drive demand for merchant account processing, insurance, and IT infrastructure as businesses cater to increased visitor spending and operational needs. The yacht economy and film production services will also create new avenues for financial and professional services. Overall, Hong Kong's strategic push aims to solidify its status as a premier global destination, benefiting a wide range of service providers.
