Hong Kong: Hong Kong Disneyland Looks Optimistically towards the Future

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL) recently presented its figures for the past financial year 2016: According to the annual report, the park welcomed a total of 6.1 million guests in the 2016 season (2015: 6.8 million), of which 39 percent were local visitors, while mainland and international visitation made up 36 percent and 25 percent, respectively. Already the seventh year in a row, HKDL achieved a new record high per capita spending and hotel occupancy was similar to last year at close to 80 percent. HKDL generated revenues of 4.8 billion HK Dollar (approx. 584 million Euro), the net loss amounts to 171 million HK Dollar (around 21 million Euro) – both figures show a downturn compared to HKDL’s 2015 financial year results (c.f. EAP news from February 23^rd, 2016).

A reason for this may be the decline in Hong Kong’s tourism sector, especially regarding guests from mainland China – nevertheless, current media reports give a positive forecast for the city’s tourism sector development. Thanks to the opening of new attractions such as the “Iron Man Experience” (c.f. EAP news from January 11^th, 2017), HKDL is optimistic about the future. On April 30^th this year, the new “Disney Explorers Lodge” will open, adding 750 rooms to the current accommodation offer. Furthermore, the Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong Government have already agreed on a multi-year expansion plan including a Marvel and a “Frozen” theme area, for which Hong Kong’s Legislative Council still needs to grant financial approval (c.f. EAP news from November 25^th, 2016). (eap)