MICE rebounds in H1 2024 with 21 million visitors

Amongst overnight visitors, MICE arrivals accounted for 700,000 visitors.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) reported a strong rebound for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism in the first half of the year (H1 2024), receiving about 21 million visitors. 

About half of them stayed overnight. Amongst overnight visitors, MICE arrivals accounted for 700,000 visitors, which has recovered to about 80% of the level recorded in the same period of 2018.

HKTB said this made MICE the fastest-recovering visitor segment in Hong Kong.

Each overnight MICE visitor spent an average of $8,000 in town, 20% to 30% higher than the average per-capita spending of all inbound travellers.

Last year, MICE visitors stayed for about 3.7 nights on average, longer compared to the average of 3.2 nights for all overnight visitors. 

The HKTB has facilitated public and private sector bids for regional and international events, securing over 60 large-scale international MICE events for Hong Kong slated for between 2024 and 2026.

The line-up of events is expected to attract more than 180,000 Mainland and international visitors.

Congresses to be held in Hong Kong for the first time include the World Cancer Congress 2026 and the International Federation of Landscape Architects World Congress 2026.