Like the turning of an old, familiar key in a lock, Australians are swinging open the door to Hong Kong once again—this time with more gusto than ever.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has tallied a remarkable 32% year-on-year rise in Australian visitor numbers for 2024, and early figures for 2025 are already bounding ahead like a rugby player chasing a loose ball at the Hong Kong Sevens. In short, the Aussies are back—and they’ve brought their famous spirit of adventure with them.
It’s no small wonder. Hong Kong, once the essential stopover on the way to Europe or a thrilling city break in its own right, has dusted itself off and polished its bright lights for a new era. The city’s irresistible mix of street-side sizzle and five-star sophistication has lost none of its old magic—in fact, it’s positively humming.
A jam-packed event calendar has certainly helped fan the flames. March was a particularly mighty affair, with Hong Kong rolling out the welcome mat for ‘Super March’, a month-long cavalcade of world-class spectacles. From the glitz of Art Basel to the gladiatorial spectacle of LIV Golf, not to mention the roar of the legendary Hong Kong Sevens—this year staged in the gleaming new Kai Tak Sports Park—the city reminded visitors how to celebrate with flair.
At times, demand has even outpaced air capacity—a fine old-fashioned problem to have. Yet relief is at hand for eager travellers. Cathay Pacific remains a stalwart on the Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth routes; Qantas maintains daily runs from Sydney and Melbourne; and come 21 June 2025, Hong Kong Airlines will launch its daily service ex-Sydney, promising a welcome bit of competition (and perhaps a few sharper fares) on one of Australia’s most-loved international corridors.
Karen Macmillan, HKTB’s Director for Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific, put it best:
“We’re thrilled to see such strong momentum from the Australian market. Hong Kong is back in a big way—from world-class events to exciting new infrastructure—and Aussies are clearly embracing the energy, flavour and spirit of the city once again.”
The city’s resurgence has been anything but half-hearted. New infrastructure projects gleam under the subtropical sun, and the old haunts—from dim sum palaces to bustling street markets—still serve up the same electric charm that once enchanted the first wave of Aussie backpackers and big dreamers.
For seasoned travellers and first-timers alike, the siren song of Hong Kong is proving impossible to resist. And in a world that seems ever in a hurry to reinvent itself, there’s a comforting, almost nostalgic pleasure in rediscovering a city that knows the value of staying true to itself, while still finding new ways to dazzle.
To stay ahead of the action and start planning your next adventure, visit Discover Hong Kong.
By Charmaine Lu
