Hong Kong Sees 155% Rise in Indian Tourists in 2024

Hong Kong Sees 155% Rise in Indian Tourists in 2024

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on September 2, 2024

Hong Kong is experiencing a strong recovery in tourism, with a notable increase in visitors from India during the first half of 2024. The city welcomed 181,000 Indian tourists, marking a remarkable 155% year-on-year rise. This surge in visitors coincides with Hong Kong's broader tourism boom, which saw 21 million arrivals between January and June 2024.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) recently concluded its annual Hong Kong Travel Mission in India, visiting Mumbai, Chennai, and New Delhi from August 20 to August 23. This mission featured a 36-seller delegation of Hong Kong’s key trade partners, including popular attractions, theme parks, leading hotels, airlines, and cruise lines. They engaged with over 500 Indian trade partners, aiming to strengthen tourism ties between the two regions.

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Indian tourists have shown a growing interest in Hong Kong’s diverse attractions, with top choices including Hong Kong Disneyland, Temple Street, Ocean Park, The Peak, and Tsim Sha Tsui. To cater to this interest, the HKTB is promoting a range of year-round events, such as the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, Hong Kong Winterfest, and the highly anticipated New Year Countdown Fireworks.

Puneet Kumar, Director for South Asia and the Middle East at the HKTB, highlighted the board’s dedication to enhancing the travel experience for Indian visitors. He stated, “At Hong Kong Tourism, we are dedicated to enhancing the travel experience for Indian tourists through a variety of engaging programs and events." Kumar also noted that the average stay of Indian tourists has increased from three days in 2018 to 4.5 days in 2024, with an average spending of HKD 9,100 per person.

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Hong Kong’s vibrant MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector has also seen robust growth, with approximately 700,000 MICE arrivals in the first half of 2024. To further attract MICE visitors, the HKTB launched the "Hong Kong Incentive Playbook" initiative, offering over 100 innovative group experiences designed to inspire and energize corporate teams.

The HKTB’s efforts align with global trends, as several countries, including Singapore, Dubai, Oman, Thailand, and Tajikistan, are actively targeting Indian travelers to boost their tourism industries. By promoting Hong Kong as a year-round destination with seamless travel options, the HKTB aims to attract more Indian tourists, particularly from Gen Z and Millennial segments interested in concerts, festivals, and other vibrant events.

As the HKTB continues to focus on both leisure and business travel, Hong Kong is positioning itself as a preferred destination for Indian tourists, offering unique experiences and easy travel processes. With visa-free entry and direct flights from major Indian cities, Hong Kong is becoming an increasingly accessible and appealing destination for Indian travelers.


Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Reports Rs 13 Crore Net Profit in Q1 FY26

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Reports Rs 13 Crore Net Profit in Q1 FY26

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 18, 2025

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) announced its financial results for Q1 FY26, recording a net profit of Rs 13 crore. Revenue from operations stood at Rs 154 crore, a 14% increase year-on-year, while operating EBITDA grew 16% YoY to Rs 45 crore. The company maintained an industry-leading occupancy of 92%, reaffirming its leadership in the hospitality sector.

ASPHL’s growth is fueled by expansion into Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. The company recently signed an MoU to acquire and manage four leisure properties in Goa, Manali, Shimla, and Dharamshala, adding 138 rooms under its brand. These steps align with ASPHL’s strategy to broaden its presence in high-potential tourism destinations and double its key count to 5,750 over the next five years.

Flurys, ASPHL’s iconic bakery and confectionery brand, now operates 102 outlets nationwide, reflecting the company’s focus on expanding its market presence while integrating modern amenities with rich cultural heritage.

Commenting on the performance, Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, said,

"We have delivered an extraordinary and best-ever Q1, setting a strong momentum for the year ahead. With topline growth of 14% and EBITDA growth of 16%, we recorded India’s highest occupancy of 92% and maintained leadership in RevPAR in the upper-upscale segment. ARR improved by 13% and RevPAR increased by 12%. With nearly 600 new rooms added, including a 41% rise in our asset-light model, and nationwide Flurys rollout, we are poised to scale faster, enhance margins, and deliver exceptional shareholder value."

ASPHL’s strong performance in Q1 FY26 underscores its strategic focus on market expansion, operational excellence, and premium guest experiences.


Marriott Announces Dividend and Expands Share Buyback Plan

Marriott Announces Dividend and Expands Share Buyback Plan

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 10, 2025

Marriott International, Inc. has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 67 cents per share on its common stock, reaffirming its commitment to delivering shareholder value. The dividend will be paid on September 30, 2025, to shareholders who are on record as of August 21, 2025.

Alongside the dividend announcement, the hospitality giant also revealed an expansion of its share repurchase program. The board of directors has authorized the repurchase of an additional 25 million shares of its Class A common stock. This comes in addition to the approximately 7.4 million shares that were still available under previous authorizations as of July 30, 2025.

Marriott has already bought back 6.4 million shares this year, amounting to $1.7 billion. These moves reflect the company’s continued confidence in its financial stability and long-term performance, aiming to strengthen shareholder value through strategic capital allocation.


Chennai Postal Services Still Disrupted: Experts Call for Alternative Systems Amid Software Transition

Chennai Postal Services Still Disrupted: Experts Call for Alternative Systems Amid Software Transition

By Author

Published on August 4, 2025

In what was intended to be a smooth digital transformation, postal services across the Chennai Circle continue to remain disrupted even days after a scheduled upgrade to India Post's new IT 2.0 system. The software transition—part of a broader effort to modernize the nation’s postal network—was implemented on August 2nd and 4th across Chennai North and South divisions. However, officials have now confirmed that technical issues still persist, leaving customers and businesses grappling with delayed or inaccessible services.

Key services such as Speed Post, registered mail, parcel bookings, and money orders have either been significantly slowed or paused altogether in many branches. Despite expectations that systems would normalize post-upgrade, the rollout of the Advanced Postal Technology (APT) system has proven more complex than anticipated.

“We are still working on stabilizing the system. There have been unforeseen glitches post-upgrade, and our teams are actively resolving them,” said a senior postal official who requested anonymity.

The disruption has raised concerns across industries—including the hospitality sector—where timely document dispatch, license renewals, vendor payments, and customer correspondence are crucial to daily operations.

Experts and industry stakeholders are now calling on India Post to introduce alternative operational strategies or backup mechanisms during such large-scale transitions.

“In a digital age where seamless service is non-negotiable, a complete blackout due to a software update is avoidable. A fallback process, whether manual or cloud-based, should be in place to ensure continuity,” said a Chennai-based hospitality consultant.

The hospitality industry relies heavily on postal services for legal documentation, international communication, and procurement logistics. The ongoing delays have caused bottlenecks not just in operations but also in customer experience delivery.

As authorities continue to work toward a resolution, the broader question remains: Should India’s essential public infrastructure be this vulnerable to a single system upgrade? The answer may lie in future-proofing core services with hybrid digital models that include disaster recovery plans and parallel systems.


Hospitalitynews.in will continue to track updates as the situation evolves.

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