Hong Kong welcomes family as millionth Philippine visitor for 2024
MANILA, Philippines — Hong Kong welcomed its millionth visitor from the Philippines for 2024 as the city marked vast improvements in Filipino arrivals.
The Linao family composed of Miguel, Ana, and their three kids were greeted by the Hong Kong Tourism Board upon the family's arrival in Hong Kong International Airport last November 29.
In 2018, arrivals from the Philippines by end-November were at 930,000, making the million-visitor mark an extraordinary feat in the post-pandemic era.
This isn't the family's first trip to Hong Kong, who were there this time for one of the children's gymnastics competition and go around tourist sites.
Miguel noted that Hong Kong was always a quick and exciting destination for the family being just less than three hours away by airplane, "We love the food, the theme parks, and the overall energy of the city."
From January to October 2024, Filipino visitors made up 920,000 of the 2.3 million Southeast Asian arrivals, itself a 127% recovery from pre-pandemic levels.
Hong Kong is also expecting more Filipino arrivals early next year as Coldplay is making a tour stop in the newly-opened Kai Tak Sports Park while OceanPark will be getting twin panda cubs as new residents.
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