Hong Kong’s twin six-month-old panda cubs, Ying Ying and Le Le, will make their public debut this weekend at Ocean Park, with hopes they’ll spark a viral moment similar to Moo Deng, the pygmy hippo in Thailand who took social media by storm last year. The yet-to-be-named cubs are expected to bring in tourists, boosting visitation numbers at the theme park.
However, the challenge lies in converting this short-term lift into a sustained boost to tourism. Hong Kong’s visitor numbers remain below pre-Covid highs due to large-scale protests, strict pandemic measures, and the national security law. Economic malaise is also affecting spending by mainland Chinese tourists, who make up the majority of visitors.
Ocean Park’s chairman, Paulo Pong, says the pandas will provide a temporary boost but don’t think they’ll turn around the tourism story in Hong Kong. The park has seen a 20% increase in bookings following the announcement of the cubs’ public debut, with international visitors accounting for 75%.
To capitalize on the intellectual property, Ocean Park is planning to turn the pandas into cartoon, movies, and comic books, which will help generate revenue. The park’s efforts have so far been successful, with a growing number of visitors from Southeast Asia and India willing to pay more for premium experiences.
The cubs’ birth marks an opportunity for Hong Kong to increase tourism revenue by HK$120 billion in 2029, up from HK$75.3 billion in 2023. However, efforts to entice visitors have largely fizzled, with retail sales falling for the 10th straight month and a recent change in leadership affecting the tourism industry.
As the world’s oldest first-time panda mother at nearly 19 years old, Ying Ying is expected to bring in significant revenue for Ocean Park. The park’s theme is not just about entertainment but also about promoting conservation efforts to protect endangered species like pandas, which are found only in southwestern China and have dwindled to fewer than 1,800 individuals in the wild.
Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visit/hong-kongs-big-bet-to-get-tourists-back-baby-pandas/articleshow/118238468.cms?from=mdr