As the Easter holiday wrapped up, Hong Kong’s airport and border checkpoints experienced a sharp surge in returning travelers. On April 20 alone, nearly 620,000 people entered the city, with long queues reported at both Hong Kong International Airport and Shenzhen Bay Port. Many travelers had to wait over an hour to clear customs.
Land crossings at Shenzhen Bay saw especially heavy traffic, with travelers lined up for extended periods. Inside the airport, arrival halls were packed with passengers hauling luggage, and although order was largely maintained, the pressure on customs and logistics was visibly intense.
According to the Immigration Department, 2.22 million outbound trips were recorded over the Easter holiday, an 180,000 increase year-on-year. Of those, 1.67 million crossed into mainland China via land ports. By April 20, around 1.61 million had returned, with another 610,000 expected to arrive in the following days—suggesting continued congestion at checkpoints.
Travel industry representatives noted a significant rebound in holiday demand this year, with Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand among the top destinations. Flights and hotel bookings were close to full capacity, and the industry expects robust travel momentum to continue into the second quarter.
