Hong Kong chalked up 49.9 million visitor arrivals last year, according to Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law.

That represents a rise of about 12 percent compared to 2024.

Speaking on a television programme on Saturday, Law said the number of visitor arrivals had beaten the Tourism Board's prediction by 900,000, with overseas visitors accounting for a higher proportion.

"Around 74 percent of them were from the mainland and 26 percent from overseas, she said.

"This, compared to the distribution in the past, was different. In the past, around 80 percent were from the mainland, while 20 percent were from overseas.

"Given that both categories of visitors saw an increase, the surge from overseas was more obvious and greater."

She went on to say stronger growth could be seen in the number of tourists arriving from Japan, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Law noted that many visitors had looked forward to the Victoria Harbour fireworks extravaganza traditionally held to usher in the new year, which had been cancelled this year as a mark of respect for victims of the Wang Fuk Court inferno.

She said the government would mull over whether to resume the fireworks, adding that it needed to see how they could make use of the experience gained from holding the countdown light and music show at the pedestrian zone at Chater Road to come up with a more innovative format next time.