According to a study conducted by ACNielsen in mid-January, 20 per cent of respondents expected to raise their holiday budget compared to 2003, with more than 30 per cent of them saying that they would increase their spend by at least a third.
About 17 per cent would spend less, with the remaining 63 per cent keeping their expenditure level unchanged.
The survey of 500 people also found that average spend during the Christmas holidays was almost HK$6,000 (about US$770) per person. Those in the 25 to 34 age bracket were the biggest spenders - an average of $7,100 each.
ACNielsen Customised Research executive director Helen Lok said: "Consumer sentiment over the past Christmas season seemed to be the strongest compared with recent years.
"We are, however, waiting to see whether this sentiment will linger ... The economy has just turned the corner, so there are still conservatives holding a wait-and-see stance."
