Expectations can set the bar high when they do not allow for unforeseen events. The “golden week” holiday that ended on Sunday is a case in point.
Tourism chief Kevin Yeung Yun-hung earlier forecast mainlanders would make 800,000 cross-border visits to Hong Kong over the five days and spend HK$2.3 billion, buoying hopes of a boost to economic recovery.
Such expectations did not factor in the bad weather that rained on most of the holiday.
Despite that, the estimated total of more than 750,000 visits came close, and the 893,000 total for all visitors was 23.5 per cent up on the same holiday last year. In the circumstances, “we’ve done a great job,” Yeung said.
In that sense a pat on the back is in order before removing the weather filter. The reality is that Hong Kong’s tourism industry is still struggling to recover, with the number of trips to the city over the holiday reaching only two-thirds of pre-pandemic levels.
The year-on-year increase in visitor numbers is therefore…