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Hong Kong retailers and restaurant operators expect a business boost from the National Games, with one shopping centre near competition venues already reporting a roughly 20 per cent increase in weekday footfall helped by early sporting events. Malls across the city also plan to capitalise on the Games, which officially open on Sunday and run until November 21, with some set to live-stream competitions to allow residents to watch and cheer on the athletes. Hong Kong is co-hosting the Games with Guangdong and Macau and will put on eight events. The competition is the country’s highest-level and largest multi-sports event and is held every four years, with Hong Kong authorities hoping the Games will bring around 100,000 visitors to the city. Fencing, track cycling, rugby sevens, golf, triathlon, beach volleyball, men’s handball and the under-22 men’s basketball will all take place in the city. “With a larger flow of people, it will definitely help our business, so I predict that business for the food and beverage sector will increase by about 10 per cent year on year during the National Games period,” said Simon Wong Ka-wo, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades. Wong said the Games would not only draw tourists to the city to watch different competitions, but residents would also be encouraged to go out and spend. “For instance, once people come out to watch a competition, after it ends, naturally they will seek entertainment options in the same area or other places,” Wong said. “This will boost the overall business for the food and beverage sector.” He said a 10 per cent increase in business was already “not bad”, as the sector had been facing a difficult operating environment. The retail sector is also expecting a lift in business. Lawmaker Peter Shiu Ka-fai said there would be an influx of mainland Chinese spectators visiting Hong Kong and the Games would lead to a better atmosphere. “Especially sporting products, there may be some events that are very popular with residents, and they may buy more jerseys to support their favourite athletes,” he said. Shiu is running for re-election in the Legislative Council’s wholesale and retail functional constituency and is competing against Hong Kong Retail Management Association chairwoman Annie Tse Yau On-yee. Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP), where the men’s handball competition is currently running at Kai Tak Arena, said its malls had seen their weekday footfall increase by about 20 per cent during matches. The park’s 50,000-seat main stadium will also host the rugby sevens from November 12 to 14. “As one of the major venues for the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities, and the 9th National Special Olympic Games, KTSP is poised to welcome even more visitors across 23 match days in November and December, with competitions taking place at various venues within the precinct,” a spokesman said. “We anticipate that the National Games will further elevate KTSP’s role as a dynamic hub for sport, leisure and entertainment, while bringing positive momentum to the precinct’s retail, food and beverage, and merchandise businesses.” Some other malls are live-streaming competitions or rolling out special discounts for shoppers. Kwun Tong’s APM shopping centre said that it would live-stream sports events on a 315-inch indoor screen and also hold a celebration to mark the opening ceremony on Sunday. The mall, operated by developer Sun Hung Kai Properties, has also rolled out sports-themed spending rewards as well as an offer for tourists to redeem cash vouchers using their tickets for Games events. “As the National Games open on November 9, our 13-day live broadcast of the competitions will help attract customers to shop while enjoying the Games,” said Fung Wing-yan, an assistant general manager in the leasing department of Sun Hung Kai Real Estate Agency. “From our experience, this will mean that customers will spend more time in the mall, which is expected to help the mall maintain a footfall increase of 10 per cent year on year, with an increase of around 5 to 8 per cent in business turnover. “The boost will be more pronounced for our sporting goods and food and beverage tenants.” Sino Group, whose Olympian City shopping centre has previously capitalised on other sporting events, said four of the firm’s largest malls would live-stream competitions. The company also said it would host sports-related activities and cheering events as well as roll out spending rewards. “The group has already invested about HK$5 million in preparations for the National Games, covering live broadcast facilities, event planning and promotions,” said Bella Chhoa, Sino Group’s director of asset management. “It is expected that this will be effective in stimulating residents’ intent to spend, particularly on products related to sports and wellness, as well as food and beverage.” Chhoa added that earlier activities had already increased footfall significantly at the firm’s malls, with it expected to rise even higher when the Games officially opened. “The Sino Group holds an optimistic attitude towards the National Games boosting retail and food and beverage sales,” she said. “We observed that large-scale sport competitions usually generate a significant increase in footfall, with particularly strong sales performance in in-venue catering and related products.”
