Tourism experts are expecting that there to be around 1.2 million Chinese mainland visitors to Hong Kong during the upcoming National Day Golden Week holiday, marking a 20 percent surge from the previous year, with group visits to the city rising by 10 percent.

With just one week left until the seven-day National Day holiday, from Oct 1 to 7, the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong estimates that during the holiday between 1.15 million and 1.2 million mainland tourists will visit Hong Kong.

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About 850 mainland tour groups will travel to Hong Kong during the holiday, bringing in approximately 30,000 visitors, with the majority of tour groups opting for an overnight stay in the city, the organization also said.

During a recent interview with the media, chairwoman of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, Gianna Hsu Wong Mei-lun, said she feels optimistic about this year's National Day holiday period despite it being one day shorter than last year’s.

Hsu said that her optimism stems from the facts that an increasing number of mainland cities are eligible to issue individual travel endorsements for trips to Hong Kong, the Tourism Board has enhanced its promotion of Hong Kong in different mainland provinces and cities, and there will be numerous celebratory events in Hong Kong and various discounts across industries.

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She said she believes that, while there have been changes in tourists' spending patterns, these discounts will help stimulate consumption.

The group also said that the SAR government and various sectors will organize a total of 400 celebration activities for National Day, including drone performances, fireworks displays, and specialty markets. Tourists can also enjoy free rides on the city’s trams and the Star Ferry.

Sun Hung Kai Properties, one of the city’s largest developers, stated that celebrations across all districts of the city will create a festive atmosphere.

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The company's shopping malls are also preparing markets, performances, and the distribution of coupons for the upcoming holiday. The company predicts that foot traffic and revenue in malls will remain stable during the holiday period, with sectors such as dining, electronics, and pharmaceuticals benefiting the most.

One of the city’s leading catering companies, Maxim's Group, said that while changes in tourists' spending patterns are likely to impact its business on National Day, resulting in lower revenue than before the pandemic, the group expects to see a slight increase in revenue compared to last year.

Contact the writer at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com