The cross-departmental working group led by the Chief Secretary for Administration announced the festival arrangements. On the first day of the Mainland National Day golden week this year (October 1st), the number of Mainland visitors to Hong Kong reached 0.2216 million, setting a new record for Mainland inbound tourists in a single day since the epidemic, and also refreshing the overall record of daily visitors to Hong Kong.

In addition, according to the latest data from travel agents to the Travel Industry Authority, there were 219 Mainland inbound tour groups on the first day of the Mainland National Day golden week, and an expected 280 Mainland inbound tour groups on October 2nd, of which about 80% are overnight trips. The Travel Industry Authority will continue to increase manpower to inspect locations with more inbound tour group activities, including major entry points, registered shops, popular tourist attractions, dining places visited by inbound tour groups, etc., to ensure orderly conduct of tour group activities.

In addition, the large cruise ship 'Costa Serena' is starting a 2-month seasonal homeport operation in Hong Kong. Yesterday (2nd), approximately 1,800 Mainland tourists entered through the Lok Ma Chau Control Point, boarded tour buses arranged by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and local tour bus operators, and headed to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. (js/k)

~