Source:
https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3012624/ticket-prices-hong-kongs-ocean-park-nearly-4-cent
Hong Kong/ Hong Kong economy

Ticket prices at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park up nearly 4 per cent

  • Loss-making Wong Chuk Hang attraction follows rival Disneyland in increasing price of admission
  • Chairman says rises reflect company’s growing costs
Ocean Park lost HK$236.5 million last year, despite receiving 5.8 million visitors. Photo: Sam Tsang

Another Hong Kong theme park is about to get more expensive as Ocean Park follows rival Disneyland in raising prices, with an increase of nearly 4 per cent from June.

The loss-making attraction in Wong Chuk Hang announced the rise on Friday, but added that Hong Kong residents would continue to pay current prices until August 31.

An adult ticket will cost HK$498 (US$63.50) under the new arrangement, and a child’s ticket will cost HK$249 – an increase of 3.75 per cent.

The fees for two of its different levels of SmartFun pass will jump by 3.7 per cent to 4 per cent.

Ocean Park announced the increase on Friday. Photo: Nora Tam
Ocean Park announced the increase on Friday. Photo: Nora Tam

Ocean Park chairman Leo Kung Lin-cheng said the price rises reflected the company’s increasing costs.

“In line with the wider market, the price adjustment is driven by the need to provide financial support for increasing operating costs and necessary capital investments to enhance the guest experience,” he said, adding that the company tried to keep the impact on Hong Kong residents to a minimum.

The park said full-time students at locally registered schools would get discounted admission from June 17 to July 12, with student identification documents. Those aged between three and 11 would pay HK$125 for a ticket, while the rest would have to fork out HK$249.

Special offers will also be available to local residents from July 1 to August 31, if they want to use the special passes.

Hong Kong residents and schoolchildren will be able to get discounts at Ocean Park over the summer. Photo: Nora Tam
Hong Kong residents and schoolchildren will be able to get discounts at Ocean Park over the summer. Photo: Nora Tam

The park suffered a loss of HK$236.5 million (US$30.3 million) last year, its third straight year in the red, despite receiving 5.8 million visitors. It lost HK$234 million in the financial year ending June 30, 2017, following a HK$241 million deficit the year before.

An Ocean Park spokeswoman said mainland tourists accounted for 40 per cent of the entertainment park’s total visitors last year, with locals accounting for another 40 per cent and the rest coming from overseas.

The move is in line with its rival Disneyland on Lantau Island, which increased prices by an average of 3 per cent in April.

The park increased admission prices for adults to HK$639, and prices for children to HK$475. Annual passes also got more expensive, with a platinum membership priced at HK$3,599, HK$2,059 for gold and HK$1,278 for silver.

Hong Kong Tourism Association executive director Timothy Chui Ting-pong said the extent of the Ocean Park fee rise was acceptable. “It has been losing money, and the increase is moderate and still bearable for tourists.”