Destinations Known | Is Hong Kong a ‘good’ tourist destination? Food culture, architecture, infrastructure, landscape – check. Shopping – lost some of its sheen. Events? Hmm
- Hong Kong’s history and position lend it a unique cultural edge, while its famous skylines and abundance of hills, beaches and islands remain a strong draw
- Malls have lost some of their glamour and street markets are quieter these days, and several marquee events have been postponed until late 2022 or 2023
Once upon a time, Hong Kong was among the most visited cities in the world. In 2019, even while wracked with political unrest, the city recorded 55.91 million arrivals. According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, 23.75 million of those were overnight visitors who stayed an average of 3.3 nights and spent HK$5,818 (US$750).
But numbers can only tell us so much. As the city prepares to again welcome sightseers from its main source market – mainland China – we are left wondering: is Hong Kong a “good” tourist destination?
Academics have identified a number of factors that make a place attractive to travellers. Research aggregator ScienceDaily, for example, notes: “Tourists’ expectations when visiting a particular place are related to several features of the chosen destinations: culture, architecture, gastronomy, infrastructure, landscape, events, shopping, etc.”
Well, Hong Kong has all of those.
