After staging a strong recovery of international visitor arrivals in 2023, Hong Kong has begun the New Year on a healthy note as it received over 223,000 international visitors for New Year’s Eve celebrations along the Victoria Harbour, which are one of the most iconic celebrations in the world.
In a press statement, Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) says that the holidays attracted many visitors from around the world. As of 22:00, more than 223,000 visitors arrived in Hong Kong on New Year’s Eve, that is December 31, breaking the record of daily visitor arrivals in 2023.
The tourism board adds that visitors were treated to the largest-ever firework spectacle created by a world-renowned team as at the stroke of midnight, Victoria Harbour transformed into a grand for the “New Year, New Legend” fireworks extravaganza.
The fireworks spanned from Central to North Point, covering a distance of 1,300 metres and lasted for 12 minutes. The fireworks choreography was designed by Liu Lin, Fireworks Project’s Chief and Director of Fireworks Operation of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The performance displayed the changing of seasons, leading the audience on a journey from winter through spring, summer and autumn, then greet winter again as the seasons repeat in a circle of life.
HKTB says that Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR Government John Lee, accompanied by his spouse, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hong Kong SAR Government Kevin Yeung and HKTB Chairman Pang Yiu-kai jointly officiated the countdown ceremony.
To provide a better three-dimensional effect, five barges with 16 floats were deployed in two layers to launch the fireworks from different angles and heights, filling the night sky and the harbour with a glamourous, spectacular, sensational feast, says HKTB.
The board adds that German cruise liner AIDAbella revisited Hong Kong after four years. More than 2,000 visitors from Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Bulgaria and other markets experienced the countdown festivity of Hong Kong and admired the fireworks close-up on board, being blown away by the magnificence and grandeur of the performance.