Rehash, but I thought I'd post it since it's a "new" article about HKDL.
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Disney set to open Hong Kong theme park in September
by Doreen Hemlock
Business Writer
Posted January 17 2005
In a sign of China's growing role in the world economy, the Magic Kingdom is soon to open in the Middle Kingdom.
Disney has set Sept. 12 as the opening day for its $3.5 billion Hong Kong Disneyland, expected to attract millions of visitors from the communist-led Chinese mainland.
The government of Hong Kong is investing nearly $3 billion on the project, part of an effort to boost the economy of the former British colony and Asian financial hub that reverted to China in 1997.
Already, the Disney venture has created more than 11,000 jobs in Hong Kong during construction, and it will directly employ 5,000 people upon opening, officials have said.
The theme park is Disney's third outside the United States, following Paris and Tokyo.
The project comes as mainland China, with its 1.3 billion residents, emerges as a major source of outbound travel, especially to areas of Asia.
In the first half of this year, China sent roughly 16 million travelers outside the mainland, compared with roughly 23 million in all of last year. The tally should top 100 million in 2020, making China the world's No. 4 source of outbound travelers, said the U.N.-linked World Tourism Organization.
Hong Kong is aiming to attract mainland Chinese families, many eager to entertain the one and only child they're allowed under the government's one-child, family-planning policy adopted in 1979.
Disneyland in Hong Kong won't be cheap. Ticket prices will run about $38 for adults and $27 for children during the week and $45 for adults and $32 for children on weekends and peak days, organizers said.
But with a growing middle class in China, Hong Kong is confident that mainland Chinese can account for at least one-third of the estimated 5.6 million visitors the first year and eventually, an even larger share of the 10 million visitors projected yearly.
The rest of the visitors are to come from Hong Kong itself and from other areas of Asia.
HongKong Disneyland will open on Lantau Island, also the site of Hong Kong's new airport. Initially, the venture will include a theme park with two hotels comprising 1,000 rooms. Later, it will add attractions and grow to 2,100 hotel rooms.
For more, check www.hongkongdisneyland.com.
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Disney set to open Hong Kong theme park in September
by Doreen Hemlock
Business Writer
Posted January 17 2005
In a sign of China's growing role in the world economy, the Magic Kingdom is soon to open in the Middle Kingdom.
Disney has set Sept. 12 as the opening day for its $3.5 billion Hong Kong Disneyland, expected to attract millions of visitors from the communist-led Chinese mainland.
The government of Hong Kong is investing nearly $3 billion on the project, part of an effort to boost the economy of the former British colony and Asian financial hub that reverted to China in 1997.
Already, the Disney venture has created more than 11,000 jobs in Hong Kong during construction, and it will directly employ 5,000 people upon opening, officials have said.
The theme park is Disney's third outside the United States, following Paris and Tokyo.
The project comes as mainland China, with its 1.3 billion residents, emerges as a major source of outbound travel, especially to areas of Asia.
In the first half of this year, China sent roughly 16 million travelers outside the mainland, compared with roughly 23 million in all of last year. The tally should top 100 million in 2020, making China the world's No. 4 source of outbound travelers, said the U.N.-linked World Tourism Organization.
Hong Kong is aiming to attract mainland Chinese families, many eager to entertain the one and only child they're allowed under the government's one-child, family-planning policy adopted in 1979.
Disneyland in Hong Kong won't be cheap. Ticket prices will run about $38 for adults and $27 for children during the week and $45 for adults and $32 for children on weekends and peak days, organizers said.
But with a growing middle class in China, Hong Kong is confident that mainland Chinese can account for at least one-third of the estimated 5.6 million visitors the first year and eventually, an even larger share of the 10 million visitors projected yearly.
The rest of the visitors are to come from Hong Kong itself and from other areas of Asia.
HongKong Disneyland will open on Lantau Island, also the site of Hong Kong's new airport. Initially, the venture will include a theme park with two hotels comprising 1,000 rooms. Later, it will add attractions and grow to 2,100 hotel rooms.
For more, check www.hongkongdisneyland.com.
