Where’s the buzz? Fewer visitors to Hong Kong’s Temple Street market as ‘Night Vibes’ campaign fizzles out

It was a warm evening and there were dozens of visitors at Hong Kong’s Temple Street night market in Yau Ma Tei.

Food and drink sellers offered everything from Turkish coffee and bubble tea to Taiwanese buns, dim sum, snake soup, stewed beef offal and more – the latest additions to the 350 metre (1,142 feet) strip of stalls selling clothes, costume jewellery, souvenirs and trinkets.

Although the crowd grew as the evening went on, the scene remained a stark contrast from January, when the temporary market launched with much fanfare and visitors – tourists and locals – thronged the place.

Vendors said they had noticed the drop in footfall in the area.

“The popularity and energy around this street is dying down, and there are fewer visitors,” Peter Nul, 60, who sells handmade necklace charms, said.

Nevzat Durmus, 51, a Turkish restaurant owner who runs a coffee stall, added: “In May, we had a lot of rain, so things became slow.”

But he said he remained hopeful the summer holidays would bring more business.