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In its first year, Disney in Hong Kong does well

Hong Kong Disneyland said yesterday it has drawn more than 5 million visitors in its first year of operation, just below the 5.6 million people it had hoped for.

Bill Ernest, managing director of the theme park, the first in China and the fifth Disney park in the world, said the park could reach the 5.6 million visitor target in the original annual forecast by October.

"We have exceeded well over five million guests since we opened last year," he told reporters ahead of the park's first anniversary since it opened on Sept. 12.

He expected attendance, including free tickets given to employee family members, to reach 5.6 million by the end of October.

"We had a slow start and there were some marketing glitches in the early days. But we are very encouraged that all major indicators suggest that we are moving in the right direction to accomplish what we set out to achieve strategically," Ernest said.

PROBLEMS

The park, owned 57 percent by the local government in a joint venture with Walt Disney, has experienced a number of problems since it opened.

In February this year, hundreds of ticket-holders, many of them mainland Chinese visiting the resort during the Lunar New year holiday week, scuffled with staff, climbing over the gates after being told the park was full.

Ernest said the park has recorded much stronger growth in the second half than the first with 60,000 summer passes being sold.

The park has had a number of initiatives to draw customers during the year including issuing summer passes, which allow unlimited visits throughout the summer months.

Between July and the end of last month, the park recorded 20,000 to 30,000 visitors every day, the maximum amount the park can hold, with half of those visiting coming from mainland China.

"We have solid summer attendance. We are making very good progress," he said, adding the park will be launching annual passes by the end of the year.

He would not disclose how much profit the park has made during the year.

"We are positioned well for future growth," he said, adding hotel room occupancy was at between 75 to 80 percent.

NO FORECAST

Ernest also declined to give an attendance forecast for next year, saying it has a "very solid growth target."

He also denied that Disney is building China's second park in Shanghai, although officials have said Shanghai has begun to prepare for a US$3.75-billion Disney theme park while awaiting for the central government's approval.

"We do not have any kind of a deal with the park in Shanghai," he said.
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