Hong Kong MICE visitors rise 7% to 2.51 million; exhibitions generate over HK$50 billion a year, Chan says

Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan said in his blog on Sunday 8 November that the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and AsiaWorld-Expo together hosted more than 360 MICE events last year, drawing 7.7 million attendances. MICE visitors to Hong Kong reached 2.51 million, up 7% year on year, with about 60% staying overnight.

International exhibition visitors spend HK$9,300 each, about 70% more

International exhibition visitors spend about HK$9,300 per capita, roughly 70% more than ordinary overnight visitors. Industry research estimates the exhibition industry generated more than HK$50 billion in economic benefits for Hong Kong in 2024 and about 67,000 full-time jobs.

HK$100 million earmarked to attract mega exhibitions; AsiaWorld-Expo Phase 2 due in 2028

The government has earmarked HK$100 million in the Budget to attract large international exhibitions. The first beneficiary, Informa's Festival of Connoisseurs, ran for three days at AsiaWorld-Expo last week and drew more than 3,000 visitors. AsiaWorld-Expo Phase 2, due in 2028, will add a multi-purpose arena for about 20,000 people; together with the Wan Chai North redevelopment, Hong Kong's large-scale MICE space will grow by more than 40%.

(Photo above: the opening of the Festival of Connoisseurs; image source: Hong Kong Government Information Services.)