Lan Kwai Fong businesses see surge in sales amid Rugby Sevens extravaganza

Bars and restaurants around Lan Kwai Fong have recorded boost in sales over the past weekend, during which the three-day Hong Kong Rugby Sevens event took place at the Hong Kong Stadium, with the organiser recording a total of 75,000 visitors attending the games. 

Anthea Cheung So May, director of the Lan Kwai Fong Association said on Monday on a radio programme that, bars and restaurants in Central near Lan Kwai Fong had seen their revenue almost double when compared to last year’s Sevens, when several covid restrictions were still in place. Meanwhile, businesses in the Lan Kwai Fong area had surged by 20% over the past weekend when compared to regular weekends, she added. 

Cheung added that the businesses in the Lan Kwai Fong area is obviously driven by the Sevens and it is obvious that many fans wearing different jerseys came to Lan Kwai Fong especially on the first two days of the tournament. However, she admitted that the business dropped a little on Sunday as people are preparing to travel for Easter holiday or preparing to go to work the next day. 

Another fact worth noting is that the majority (80%) of Lan Kwai Fong's guests were foreign tourists over the past weekend, according to Cheung. With the lifting of travel restrictions and covid curbs within the city, she pointed out that compared with last year's Sevens, Lan Kwai Fong's overall business has doubled.

She also added that Lan Kwai Fong has been cooperating with the Hong Kong Rugby Union and is the designated venue for its official parties. Lan Kwai Fong will also hold different programmes for fans to participate in during the game, and the bus companies have also set up special routes to facilitate fans to reach the venue. She suggested that Hong Kong should hold more music festivals, concerts and other activities in the future, which will help promote the local economy and boost Lan Kwai Fong's businesses.

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On the other hand, fans at the tournament showed up in quirky fancy dress outfits including Hawaiian shirts, cowboy attire, mahjong tiles and a giant squid. 

One local fan supporting the Hong Kong team explained to RTHK her decision to dress as Woody from Toy Story: "I just wanted to dress up as something that's eye-catching."

On the last day of the tournament, Hong Kong's leader John Lee presented the winner’s trophy to the New Zealand men’s team. He said that he could feel the stadium “heated up” as participating teams gave them all to the game and the exciting games made fans and audience excited.

“Similar international events will come one after another, injecting vitality into Hong Kong. In addition to creating a ‘happy Hong Kong’ for local citizens, it can also attract tourists from different places to come to Hong Kong to feel the warm atmosphere. Let us say ‘Hello Hong Kong’ to them,” Lee wrote on social media afterwards. 

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to Hong Kong Rugby Union for further information.

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