Hong Kong on Monday welcomed its first tour group from the mainland in three years with 15 visitors arriving on the express rail line from Guangzhou.

The group were given gift packs from Hong Kong Disneyland before their visit to the theme park later in the day.

With free time pencilled in for Tuesday, their travel agent suggested they go to the M+ Museum.

One of the tourists said she used to visit Hong Kong every year and was excited to be back.

Another told reporters: "I was planning to come as quickly as I could, once the cross-border PCR tests were waived....I haven't been here for about four years. I feel happy and excited right now."

One woman said a HK$100 voucher she received from the Tourism Board made her feel she was welcomed by the Hong Kong people.

The travel agent said the tour was booked up in just two days and this shows how strong a desire mainland people have to come to Hong Kong again.

Meanwhile, shopkeepers and residents in Sheung Shui said there were more people in the district after the border fully reopened.

“I think they mostly come to Sheung Shui to buy something to take back to the mainland. When I look at the price of tissues, many of them have an increased in price,” a woman surnamed Chan told RTHK.

A man surnamed Chong said he came to Hong Kong to buy some necessities for his family, including milk powder.

A pharmacy in the area reported a surge in business on Monday.

“The sales increased by 60 to 70 percent. They bring their luggage and mainly buy drugs, cosmetics and supplements. We hope business will continue to improve and more people will come,” a shopkeeper surnamed Fong said.