It’s a slow year after all: Hong Kong Disneyland reports first annual business loss since 2011

The slump in mainland tourists has taken its toll on Hong Kong Disneyland, which yesterday reported a loss for the first time since 2011, amid an official forecast of a further drop in visitor numbers this year.

The theme park, celebrating its 10th anniversary, lost HK$148 million last year, compared with a profit of HK$332 million a year ago, as 23 per cent fewer mainland tourists visited Disneyland.

At the same time, the Hong Kong Tourism Board predicted that overall tourist numbers would dip another 1.8 per cent this year, following a 2.5 per cent decline in 2015. Some tourism insiders consider that as still too optimistic.

“This year will be difficult,” said Andrew Kam, Hong Kong Disneyland’s managing director.

Total visitor numbers to the park were down 9.3 per cent to 6.8 million in the fiscal year ending in October 2015 compared with the previous year.

Mainland visitors last year accounted for only 41 per cent of total tourist figures, down from a peak of around half of Disneyland’s guests between 2012 and 2013. However, local visitors saw a 14 per cent increase compared to the same period a year ago.