The latest figures have again raised questions over the type of tourists the city hopes to attract to sustainably develop the industry, one of the four pillars of the economy.

Yeung provided the numbers, which show an upwards trend from the start of the year when cross-border pandemic-related travel restrictions were fully lifted, in response to lawmaker Chan Yuet-ming’s question about inbound tour groups.

The number of tours from across the border climbed in October to 6,087, a 35.8 per cent jump from 4,482 the month before, amid the mainland’s week-long National Day holiday beginning on September 29.

Hong Kong mainland Chinese tour group data shows visitor trends and preferences

The trend spilled over into the first 15 days of November when 3,278 tour groups arrived.

A breakdown of the groups showed the cheapest tours – those costing 500 yuan (US$70) or less – dominated the market.

On a monthly basis, those groups accounted for at least 30 per cent of tours across the year. In September, low-cost tours made up 43.6 per cent of the month’s total of 4,482.

Over the 11-month period, the groups charging 500 yuan or less accounted for 39 per cent of all tours, with those costing 1,000 yuan or lower making up 63 per cent.

Across all price levels, most tour groups came from Shenzhen.

Most groups arrived via Hong Kong’s land crossings, especially the new Heung Yuen Wai-Liantang checkpoint, and departed using the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.

Before the pandemic, mainland tour groups – mostly low-cost ones – flocked to the city, causing traffic jams and resentment in densely populated districts.

Shanghai Commercial Bank head of research Ryan Lam said Hong Kong should attract more people who would stay overnight, for example, business visitors from the mainland and elsewhere, as well as Southeast Asian and long-haul travellers.

“These visitors will stay overnight and their spending power is guaranteed,” he said.

But macroeconomic conditions such as the strong Hong Kong dollar were unfavourable to the city.

Yiu, the lawmaker, said that while it was unclear how much time the tourists were spending in Hong Kong, and whether their low expenditure was because they did not stay the night, part of the city’s current tourism strategy was to promote itself as one destination out of a multi-stop trip in the Greater Bay Area.

Hong Kong shopping spree for 2,000-strong mainland China tour group

“Many tourists pass through before heading to Macau or Zhuhai. Yes, a lot of them don’t spend the night, but we cannot shut them out just because they stay for a shorter period,” he said.

Yeung, the government minister, promised to enhance immigration clearance efficiency at border crossings through upgraded facilities and technology.

The Tourism Board earlier revealed that 26.78 million tourists visited the city in the first 10 months of the year, exceeding its full-year forecast of 25.8 million.

Its latest forecast for the total number of tourists arriving in the city is more than 30 million for the whole year, which is still less than half the figure for the record-setting 2018.

Authorities aim to attract more visitors by hosting mega events in coming months as the economy grows at a slower rate than expected.

Hong Kong welcomes 1.1 million mainland Chinese visitors over National Day break

Despite the tour group numbers climbing every month in 2023 to date, retail sales have not followed suit, according to government statistics.

In January, retail sales stood at HK$36.1 billion (US$4.6 billion), before the border with the mainland reopened fully.

Despite those restrictions being lifted the following month, the number only reached HK$33.1 billion in February and HK$33.5 billion in March. Retail sales in September, the latest available figure, stood at HK$31.7 billion.

Additional reporting by Denise Tsang