Tourists to Hong Kong Fell 53% Over Christmas Season: Sing Tao

(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong saw a 53% drop in inbound visitors during the Christmas period from Dec. 21 to Dec. 26, the Sing Tao Daily reported, as months of protests in city deterred tourists.

The number of mainland Chinese tour groups visiting the city declined by almost 90%, the paper said, citing Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong Chairman Jason Wong. About 620,000 people visited Hong Kong during the period, according to the report which used data from the Immigration Department.

Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters inside a mall in Kowloon Bay on Christmas Day. The shopping centers were also the scenes for some clashes on Christmas Eve, which left about two dozen people injured.

Hong Kong Protesters Target Shopping Centers, Mainland Chinese

©2019 Bloomberg L.P.