In 2023, the total GDP of the bay has achieved a breakthrough, reaching US$1986.8 billion, contributing 1/9 of China’s overall economic aggregate with less than 0.6% of the country’s land area and only 6% of its total population. In terms of the economic scale, in 2021, the GDP of the New York Metropolitan Area and San Francisco Bay Area was US$1,902.08 billion and US$1,217.19 billion while that of the Tokyo Bay Area in 2020 was US$2,094.04 billion. The Bay was US$1986.8 billion in 2023 and ranked in second place. Based on the current growth rate, the Bay’s GDP will surpass the Tokyo Bay Area in 2026 and may obtain the greatest GDP among the World’s Major Bay Areas.

Source: Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong, Statistics and Census Service of Macao, the statistics bureaux of the relevant PRD cities, HKTDC

On 18 February 2019, the State Council announced the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Bay is strategically positioned to be (i) a vibrant world‑class city cluster; (ii) a showcase for in‑depth cooperation between the Mainland and Hong Kong and Macao; and (iii) a quality living circle for living, working and travelling etc.

Over 70% of ITE2024 trade visitors and all public visitors came from the Greater Bay Area, which includes China's top cities like Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou etc., had in 2023 a combined GDP of US$1.9868 billion and population of 86 million, and all fast recovering markets.

Also, TKS hosted trade delegations organized by tourism associations from several Bay cities in Guangdong with delegates totaling 400 to visit ITE2024, in addition to those coming individually.

The traffic network between cities in the Bay are comprehensive, travellers may take cross-border buses, high-speed rail or jetfoil to any the Bay cities. The implement of Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles and Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link has further enhanced the transportation and attracted more Hong Kong citizen travel to the Bay cities. Besides, Hong Kong also has direct flights to and from mainland cities, e.g. Beijing, Sanya, Hangzhou etc.

More information about the Bay, please visit: www.bayarea.gov.hk/en/home/index.html