The Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector in Hong Kong is witnessing a strong recovery, significantly fueled by a surge in arrivals from India. According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), overnight MICE visitor numbers in 2024 rose to approximately 1.42 million – up 10% from 2023 and reaching around 80% of pre-pandemic levels.
India has played an outsized role in this rebound. In 2024, Indian arrivals to Hong Kong surged by more than 70% compared to the previous year. HKTB has identified India as one of its fastest-growing and most crucial source markets for MICE and incentive travel.
To leverage this momentum, the HKTB has stepped up initiatives aimed at Indian corporates, travel intermediaries, and event planners. These include familiarization (FAM) tours that showcase Hong Kong’s world-class venues and infrastructure, incentive experiences, major attractions, and newer tourism developments.
One recent FAM tour, The Next Stop: Hong Kong – Corporate Buyers, held in June 2025, brought senior representatives from key Indian companies, allowing them to experience both business and leisure offerings in the city – from landmark hotels and cruise itineraries to cultural sites and curated evening programs. Another cruise-focused segment later in July targeted travel intermediaries from major Indian cities, highlighting Hong Kong’s growing cruise appeal alongside its meetings and incentives strength.
HKTB leadership, including Marilyn Tham (General Manager – MICE, Cruise & Mega Events), has reaffirmed that Hong Kong’s appeal lies not just in its iconic skyline and connectivity but also in its ability to offer diverse, high-quality event experiences. Venues such as AsiaWorld-Expo, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, and cultural districts like West Kowloon are part of the infrastructure expansion that supports large conventions, incentive group travel, and hybrid meeting formats.
The Board aims to build on this growth, with promotional strategies that combine experiential incentives, immersive destination showcases, and targeted engagement with Indian planners to sustain and further accelerate arrival numbers. With India now among the top five source markets for incentive group travel to Hong Kong, both sides see lasting potential in deepening ties.
As Hong Kong edges closer to full tourism recovery, its MICE sector is repositioning itself for sustained growth – and India is emerging as a central partner in that resurgence.
