Restaurants and hotels hail boost in business during Halloween month

As the Hong Kong Tourism Board's Halloween Month draws to a close, many in the catering and hotel sectors believe the month-long event successfully led to a boost in festival-themed consumption in the city.

Several businesses are hoping for the event's continuation next year and similar government promotions to expand to other important holidays.

The Immigration Department recorded more than 218,000 mainland visitors entering the city on the eve of Halloween -- many hoping to enjoy Hong Kong's excitingly ghoulish atmosphere.

The figure marked a 17% increase, or an additional 32,000 tourists compared to the week before.

This as the festive Saturday night fright truly reached its peak late in the evening.

Away from the traditional gathering hub for revellers in Lan Kwai Fong, crowds gathered for street parties in locations such as Mong Kok's Langham Place, East Tsim Sha Tsui and Kai Tak.

The former saw people flow in the area increase by some 20% compared to regular days.

Noting the cheerful environment across the city's various districts, some lawmakers in the catering sector said restaurant businesses have recorded a 10% increase this October compared with the same period last year.

Lawmaker Jonathan Leung from the Catering functional constituency suggested the Tourism Board's promotion of Halloween could expand to other festivities such as Chinese New Year, transforming the days-long event into a full month of celebration.

Besides the catering sector, Hong Kong's hotel industry enjoyed an exceptional month as well, with a hotel chain with branches in Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai recording occupancy rates reaching 95% throughout October.

A managing director of the hotel chain said while most patrons during the Halloween period in previous years mostly consisted of businessmen, this year marked a noticeable increase in young patrons dressed in a wild assortment of costumes.

She emphasised the combination of Halloween festivities, activities and concerts attracted many to consider staying in the city overnight.