Hong Kong Disneyland attendance drops

Hong Kong Disneyland saw its overall attendance drop in its second year of operations, according to a paper provided to lawmakers by the city's Tourism Commission. The park saw more than five million visitors in its first year of operations, which was less than forecast, but still more than the four-plus million visitors it saw in its second. Recent reports indicated that second-year attendance figures from the park would indeed be down, prompting both the local government and the Walt Disney Company, which owns a 43% stake in the park, to see help from creditors. These calls for help have led some officials to claim that the park was misguided from the beginning, and not worthy of more funding. “It's very regrettable that Hong Kong people have spent billions of dollars to import this brand name and it turned out a big failure,'' Frontier Party legislator Emily Lau said in a phone interview yesterday. “I don't think we should pour more money into it.'' 

According to the paper, 39% of the park's visitors came from mainland China (where Disney is said to be planning another park), 31% from the local area, with the rest of visitors coming from abroad. “In line with other Disneyland theme parks all over the world, the number of visitors in the second year would decrease,'' Hong Kong Disneyland media relations director Glendy Chu said. “Walt Disney is discussing with the Hong Kong government about the financing and development of how to expand the park.'' [via Screamscape]