Hong Kong Disneyland Slumps Amid Fall In Mainland Tourists (Photo : Getty Images)
Shanghai Disneyland has been officially open for barely half a year, but it has proven to be a threat to Hong Kong Disneyland. To battle the competition posed by the newly opened Shanghai Disneyland, the operators of the one in the Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong government would expand the resort by spending $1.4 billion.
Under the expansion plan, the Hong Kong Disneyland would host the world’s first “Frozen” and Marvel-themed facilities. It would be located at Phase 1 where the operators of the resort had completed formation work, China Daily reported.
According to CNN, the “Frozen” themed area would have rides, dining, shopping and entertainment based on characters and stories in the Disney animated film. The new attraction, based on the kingdom of Arendelle, would open in 2020.
Gregory So Kam-leung, Hong Kong Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, said by expanding Hong Kong Disneyland, the resort hopes to attract more overnight and high-spending tourists from more diversified market sources. The objective is in line with fostering the development of the region’s tourism industry in a healthy, sustainable and high value-adding manner.
The expansion covers six years, from 2018 through 2023. With the expansion plan, the number of attractions in Hong Kong Disneyland would go up to 130 from the current 110. As part of the expansion, the Sleeping Beauty Castle would be close from 2017 through 2019 as Disneyland transforms the attraction over three years.
Since the Hong Kong government has a 53 percent stake in the region’s Disneyland, it would allocate HK$5.8 billion for the expansion project, while Walt Disney Company would shoulder the remaining HK$5.1 billion, retaining the sharing ratio after the infusion of fresh capital.
From January through October, visitors to Hong Kong Disneyland declined by 9.6 percent, while visitors to Shanghai Disneyland keeps on increasing even if both resorts charge similar ticket and ride prices.
