Blackpink lifts mainland Chinese arrivals in Hong Kong to January weekend record

Mainland Chinese tourists coming to Hong Kong on Saturday and Sunday made it a record-breaking weekend for this month, driven by K-pop girl group Blackpink’s shows, while the figure was just 2 per cent below New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day footfall.Hotel and retail industry leaders said on Monday the three-day concert series had attracted crowds of local and mainland “Blinks” – the nickname for Blackpink fans – to Kai Tak.They urged authorities to explore more celebrity tie-ups to promote the Hong Kong brand and its cultural heritage, and to host new events to drive tourism.The concert at Kai Tak Stadium on Monday marked the final performance of the band’s “Deadline” world tour that began last July, with singer Rosé capping off her tradition of sampling local snacks on camera with fish balls, after tasting an egg waffle and a sip of milk tea over the past two nights.Chung Pok-man, vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Department Stores and Commercial Staff General Union, said the flavours tasted by Rosé and Thai member Lisa’s visit to Che Kung Temple showcased local heritage and could drive tourism.“Apart from looking at it from numbers, we should also look at the concert’s impact on promoting the soft power of the city, such as tourist spots and the culinary scene,” he said.