Chan was speaking after the city recorded around 1.1 million tourists during the recent Golden Week holiday, up 22 percent from the same period last year.
Photos and footage of low-budget mainland backpackers spending nights at McDonald’s went viral on social media.
Speaking on a radio programme, Chan said the ultimate goal is to ensure visitors have a positive experience.
“There are also tourists who prefer not to stay overnight and would rather spend their money on shopping,” he said.
“We have many different types of tourists.
“I think we don’t need to limit ourselves to only high-spending groups.
“Even if someone isn’t a big spender today, if they have a good impression of Hong Kong, in a few years when they find a job, they could become a high-spending visitor.”
On the use of technology to help visitors plan their itineraries, the government will use technology to provide real-time updates on queuing lengths at border checkpoints, Chan said.
With many of the mainland visitors taking to hiking during their visit, he said the 60-kilometre Round-the-Island Trail on Hong Kong Island is expected to be 90 percent complete within two to three years.
On US tariffs on Hong Kong goods, Chan said the SAR is actively seeking business opportunities elsewhere, including through the chief executive’s delegation to the Middle East.
