Disneyland regains magical touch as almost 1 million people compete for free tickets in Hong Kong

Theme park’s lucky draw attracted more than 900,000 registrants in a week

Reading Time:2 minutes

The lucky draw, which will close on Thursday, is open to all Hong Kong residents. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 8:18pm, 13 Nov 2017Updated: 8:24pm, 13 Nov 2017

A lucky draw at Hong Kong Disneyland has attracted almost 1 million people bidding to win 50,000 free tickets, as the theme park seeks to rediscover its magical touch amid a tourism downturn.

More than 900,000 people registered for the lucky draw, open to all Hong Kong residents, which was launched last Tuesday and will close on Thursday. It works out at about one ticket for every 18 applicants.

The giveaway came as the number of tourists from mainland China visiting the 12-year-old theme park continued to decline, a factor attributed to two consecutive years of loss making.

The government demanded the park hold the lucky draw when it agreed to fund half a HK$10.9 billion (US$1.4 billion) expansion project of Disneyland, approved by lawmakers in May.

“The enthusiastic response proves Disneyland is still attractive to Hong Kong people,” Yiu Si-wing, a lawmaker for the tourism sector, said.

The lucky draw is a win-win for both local residents and Disneyland, Yiu said, as winners of free tickets would buy souvenirs and bring friends and families along, generating more profit for the park.

Disneyland regains magical touch as almost 1 million people compete for free tickets in Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Theme park’s lucky draw attracted more than 900,000 registrants in a week

Theme park’s lucky draw attracted more than 900,000 registrants in a week