Photo shows a drone light show celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival at Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, south China, June 22, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Starting as early as May, Hong Kong tourists could see monthly pyrotechnics and drone displays over Victoria Harbour, an official said at a press conference on Friday, where the 2024-25 Budget details were shared.

“The planned fireworks and drone shows will coincide with festivals and mega events, such as Labour Day, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival in June, and summer vacations in July and August,” Dane Cheng, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, said.

Tourism saw a significant rebound last year as Hong Kong stepped up efforts to attract visitors to the city by hosting various events and activities in a bid to boost its economy

The shows are expected to be launched in May or June, he added.

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Cheng said some local associations are also planning small-scale fireworks or drone displays, and he believes that, overall, these events will be beneficial for Hong Kong’s tourism.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung acknowledged that simply hosting fireworks once a month may not be enough to attract a large number of tourists to travel specifically for the shows.

“The goal is to enrich the experience for tourists visiting Hong Kong. With Victoria Harbour as a backdrop, the attraction is certain to persuade visitors to either extend their stay by an extra night or stay out later,” Yeung noted. 

The remarks came after Financial Secretary Paul Chan-Mo-po delivered the 2024-25 Budget on Wednesday, in which almost HK$1.1 billion ($140.51 million) was allocated to support the Tourism Commission and the Tourism Board in organizing events and activities.

Tourism saw a significant rebound last year as Hong Kong stepped up efforts to attract visitors to the city by hosting various events and activities in a bid to boost its economy. According to official statistics, visitor arrivals in Hong Kong reached about 34 million in 2023. It is expected that the number will increase to 46 million this year, up 35 percent year-on-year.

Overnight visitors are expected to spend an estimated HK$5,800 each on average this year, compared with HK$6,939 in 2023, and the average stay for visitors to Hong Kong is expected to decline to 3.2 nights from 3.6 nights.

Chan also proposed that the collection of Hotel Accommodation Tax at 3 percent be resumed, effective from Jan 1, 2025

Since the planned shows will not be ticketed, Yeung said it will be difficult to calculate their economic benefits. “The overall economic impact will depend on the timeframe, but these activities will boost local commerce and give a shot in the arm to the broader tourism industry,” he added.

In the 2024-25 Budget, Chan also proposed that the collection of Hotel Accommodation Tax at 3 percent be resumed, effective from Jan 1, 2025.  “The tax to be collected is estimated to only account for less than 1 percent of the total spending of overnight visitors in Hong Kong,” Chan said.

READ MORE: Hong Kong's push for mega events welcomed by industry

Yeung said he believes the appeal of Hong Kong as a tourist destination will not be impacted by the tax levy.

“Overall, considering the financial budget as a whole, the measures in place to attract visitors are likely to have a greater impact than the introduction of the Hotel Accommodation Tax,” he said. 

Contact the writer at tianyuanzhang@chinadailyhk.com