Financial Secretary Paul Chan said on Thursday the performance by Hong Kong's meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) industry has been "remarkable" this year, with the city welcoming more tourists as well as participants of various conferences and events.

Chan's remarks came as he delivered a welcoming speech at the 92nd "UFI Global Congress 2025", which is an international gathering focussed on the exhibition sector, at the AsiaWorld-Expo.

Speaking at the four-day event that ends on Saturday, Chan noted that Hong Kong welcomed 41 million visitors in the first 10 months of the year, 12 percent more compared to the same period last year.

The expo and the other such facility, the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, together drew more than nine million participants to the over 350 events they hosted last year, he said, adding that he's optimistic this year will be even better.

"We often strategically programme major MICE events with signature sports and cultural activities, creating a continuous stream of excitement for participants and visitors," Chan said.

"We also integrate these events with Hong Kong’s diverse tourism offerings – from pop concerts and horse racing to fine dining and cultural explorations.

"Our goal is to enrich visitors’ itineraries and experiences in Hong Kong, so that they would like to stay longer, discover more and return more often."

To host even more exhibitions and events, Chan said, the SAR government is looking to further expand facilities at the two centres and overall capacity.

"The AsiaWorld-Expo is undergoing a major expansion, adding over 33,000 square metres of space by 2028. Meanwhile, the government is working to expand the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to add more exhibition space," he noted.

"These investments reflect our strong commitment and confidence in the future of the exhibition industry in Hong Kong."

Chan also said digital innovation and "hybrid" meeting formats are creating new revenue streams and business opportunities for the sector, while a growing global focus on environmental and sustainability issues is driving innovations in operational efficiency, supply chain management and encouraging organisers to turn regulatory requirements a competitive advantage.

About 600 people from some 50 countries and regions are attending the congress this year, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the global association.

Established in 1925 in Milan, the group is a non-political international association of more than 900 member organisations across more than 90 countries and has a regional office in Hong Kong.