A tourism sector representative said the number of mainlanders who visited Hong Kong over the National Day Golden Week holiday, which concludes on Wednesday, has been satisfactory, with more than 1.28 million having done so.

Timothy Chui, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, told RTHK that the number compared favourably with last year's, with this year's National Day celebration period overlapping with the Mid-Autumn Festival and the figure showing growth of 5.6 percent .

He said activities such as the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance and open-top double-decker bus rides during sunsets have proved to be quite the irresistible draws.

Chui, also the managing director of O'Hotel, said room rates for the sector had remained fairly steady.

"Many hotels saw high occupancy rates," he said.

"And for smaller hotels like ours, which are cheaper, there was a greater chance of a full house.

"Room prices didn't change much, except on October the second and third when they rose slightly by about 10 percent. Over the past few days, the rate has been pretty much the same as usual."

The chairman of the Association for Hong Kong Catering Services Management, Leung Chun-wan, said business went up by 15 to 20 percent at restaurants located at tourist hotspots and 10 percent at outlets located at other places.

Looking ahead, Chui said the sector hopes to widen Hong Kong promotions as a tourist destination in more mainland cities, particularly Xi'an and Qingdao, as well as second-tier cities.

It will also roll out new activities for them, he added.

As for industrial tourism, Fanny Yeung, the executive director of the Travel Industry Council, said the first phase would cover food company Lee Kum Kee, bakery chain Kee Wah and probiotics company Yakult.

The three household names will be hosting tour groups at their factories in Tai Po Industrial Estate by this year.

"We are liaising with other brands, such as [pharmaceutical company] Wai Yuen Tong, Nissin Foods, and [sauce maker] Pat Chun," Yeung said.

"But we still need more time to talk to them before we can launch tours gradually."

Yeung went on to say that the industry will also look at how to optimise operations in the first phase of the programme.