The government said Hong Kong remains one of the top destinations for tourists after visitor numbers topped 235,000 on Saturday, ahead of the start of the holiday season.

The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau said the total number of visits stood at 235,586, with mainland travellers accounting for more than 187,000 of them -- the highest since the National Day Golden Week holiday.

Visits by non-mainland travellers, meanwhile, reached almost 48,000, the highest single-day total for this year and the second highest since the pandemic.

The bureau said the figures showed Hong Kong is a top destination for both family visits and holiday travel.

Officials said two cruise ships visited the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal on Friday, further attracting tourists to the SAR. The bureau also cited a series of festive events held in Central and the West Kowloon Cultural District.