Hong Kong Disneyland told to improve its act
HONG KONG – A cloud continues to hang over Hong Kong Disneyland as local politicians question its success at a time when Shanghai has expressed its determination to build its own Disneyland theme park starting 2010, when it hosts the World Expo..
Initial estimates in 1999 of the theme park’s viability put the total economic benefit between HK$80 billion and HK$148 billion over 40 years, the Hong Kong Legislative Council was told .
But The Standard in Hong Kong reports that lower-than-expected attendances and other problems that have marred the first two years of operation have prompted the estimate to be revised to between HK$30 billion and HK$48 billion.
Hong Kong Disneyland, 57-per cent owned by the government, drew around 5.2-million visitors in its first year, but reports have suggested it struggled to reach four-million visitors in its second, well below its capacity of 34,000 a day.
Secretary for commerce and economic development Frederick Ma said the performance of the theme park in its first two years “had not been satisfactory,” but insisted it would be economically viable under the far more conservative estimate of future benefits.
The Hong Kong government has urged Disney to improve its management of the theme park.
Ma said the park offered “non-quantifiable” benefits such as helping raise Hong Kong’s reputation as a cosmopolitan city and being one of the largest employers of full-time entertainers.
“The government will continue to urge the park management to formulate cost-effective business strategies, improve the park’s operational efficiency and work more closely with the local travel trade with a view to harnessing the full economic potential of this international theme park,” he added.
Ian Jarrett
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