Hong Kong catering industry ‘suffers 11% drop in business’ on Christmas Eve, as residents head to mainland China and overseas for festive break
- Hong Kong catering chief says estimated turnover for industry on Christmas Eve was HK$380 million, lower than last year’s tally of HK$430 million
- Tourism association predicts one-third of residents are heading to mainland, with some taking advantage of cheaper services, and overseas for holidays,
Hong Kong’s catering industry suffered a more than 10 per cent drop in business on Christmas Eve, a sector leader said, as a tourism association estimated that one-third of city residents had opted to spend the festive break in mainland China or overseas.
Simon Wong Ka-wo, the president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, on Monday said the estimated turnover in the sector on Sunday was HK$380 million (US$48.6 million), 11 per cent lower than the HK$430 million recorded last year.
He also predicted a similar turnover for Christmas Day.
“The drop is quite obvious,” he told a radio programme. “On Christmas Eve, many people travelled to the mainland or overseas. Residents are also enjoying a long Christmas weekend.”
Wong added that hotel restaurants in the past had been fully booked for Christmas Eve two to three weeks in advance, but some were welcoming walk-in customers this year.
