Visitor arrivals recovered to just 60 of 2018 levels
Tourists increasingly looking for experiences beyond shopping
Luxury department store Harvey Nichols closing flagship shop

HONG KONG, Dec 18 Reuters Hong Kong39;s luxury retailers are adapting to fewer wealthy Chinese shoppers visiting the city and a shift towards tourists flocking to Instagramcoveted spots in trendy districts rather than splashing out on pricey branded gear.

Before the pandemic, the Chinese special administrative region had bucked global trends of declining demand for multibrand department stores and ultraluxury brands largely due to its attractiveness to highspending mainland visitors.

But the rise of competing shopping hubs like China39;s Hainan island, changing consumer preferences and a rise in online shopping have fundamentally changed demand for luxury goods in Hong Kong and are starting to reshape the city39;s visitor economy, according to industry experts.

The focus of visitors in Hong Kong has shifted from 39;shop till you drop39; to a greater desire for local culture and experiencebased touring, said Rosanna Tang, an executive director at Cushman Wakefield.

Overnight and sameday visitor shopping spend was at 55 and 18 of 2018 levels respectively in the first half of the year, said Tang, prompting retailers to focus more on food and beverage outlets.

British luxury department store Harvey Nichols is at the forefront of the changes. Its owner Dickson Concepts said last month it…