It’s summer once again, the time when kids put down their pens and books for a while to take a few months off from school and look forward to the perfect destination to spend time with their families. Whether it’s an out-of-town or overseas trip, taking time off with family and loved ones during the summer is the best way to bond and de-stress during this brightest season of the year.
This April 30, 2009, Ocean Park in Hong Kong, one of the world’s leading theme parks, will be launching the Amazing Asian Animals exhibit and the newest Ocean Express. These new attractions will not only provide visitors with a more unique, exciting, and unforgettable experience but will also offer them a more convenient way to enjoy the park to the fullest. Aside from its world-class attractions, Ocean Park in Hong Kong also marks a couple of firsts in the theme park industry – Amazing Asian Animals is the world’s first and only integrated indoor and outdoor multi-Asian-species exhibit, and Ocean Express is the first and only theme park funicular system running inside a tunnel with an immersive show.
Ranked 15th in the world, 5th in Asia, and China’s number one theme park, Ocean Park Chief Executive Tom Mehrmann is proud to launch these milestone attractions as part of their mission in conservation, entertainment, and education.
“Our success is rooted in our ability to provide what is relevant to the market while remaining steadfast to our founding mission — connecting guests with nature by creating unique edutainment (a term coined for education and entertainment) with strong conservation values. As such, the launch of these first two areas, with multiple attractions, is a big step forward,” said Mehrmann.
Come the end of April, Ocean Park Hong Kong’s executives can’t hide their excitement as they introduce the park’s newest attractions. The main stars of the show on April 30 will be their two 3-year-old Giant Pandas, Ying Ying and Le Le. The Giant Panda Adventure will serve as home to these precious baby pandas. Aside from the Giant Pandas, guests will also get the chance to see other exotic animals such as the playful Red Pandas, the prehistoric Chinese Giant Salamanders, Asian Small-Clawed Otters, Chinese Alligators (locally known as the “Earth Dragon”), and a dozen turtles. This summer, the Amazing Bird Show will make a comeback with a new face and narration.
Another main attraction that should not be missed is the Goldfish Treasure, which houses 300 different kinds of Goldfish in various colors and sizes. If you crave a more nature-inspired experience, you can take a hike through the Emerald Trail, a nature path set among waterfalls, a suspension bridge, and multiple connections leading to various landscapes. From these descriptions alone, it sounds like the Emerald Trail is the perfect place to snap some souvenir photos with your family and friends.
Visiting Ocean Park Hong Kong won’t be complete without grabbing some souvenirs for yourself, right? The newest and largest themed souvenir shop, Panda Kingdom, offers over 5,000 animal-themed items in more than 350 variations, ensuring you won’t run out of things to bring home. Tired from walking, riding, and sightseeing? Treat your empty stomach to a smorgasbord of popular dishes from various Asian regions at Ocean Park Hong Kong’s Panda Café.
If you’ve been to Ocean Park before, you’re probably familiar with their world-famous cable cars. Spread over 870,000 square meters, walking from one end of the park to the other can be tiring, so the best way to reach your preferred destination inside the theme park is by taking the 15-minute cable car ride. If you’re running out of time and want a faster journey, the Ocean Express is your answer. Equipped with a three-ropeway system, the Ocean Express will transport 10,000 guests per hour to the park’s future Waterfront (currently known as “Lowland”) and Summit (currently known as “Headland”) areas in just 3 minutes.
Ocean Express, which took inspiration from the 19th-century “Jules Verne” explorer submarine, will open in the fall of 2009 and promises a multi-sensory journey, an undersea odyssey, and an out-of-this-world experience.
When asked if Ocean Park Hong Kong has been affected by the global economic downturn, Mehrmann said, “Remarkably, we have not been negatively affected by the economic downturn. In fact, we just reported our best January, February, and March in our history… I think what’s happened at Ocean Park is that we’ve been seen as offering real value for money. We provide double the attractions for half the price.” Mehrmann also noted that Hong Kong’s proximity, affordable airfares, great dining, shopping, and of course, theme parks make it a top destination for visitors, particularly Filipinos. “Ocean Park is at the top of the list for theme park destinations because we’re so different. We offer animal experiences, educational experiences, and a wide variety of things that most theme parks don’t offer.”
Aiming to double their attractions from 35 to over 70, Ocean Park Hong Kong promises to launch four more brand-new themed attraction areas between 2010 and 2013 and open three themed hotels between 2013 and 2015. It’s clear that Ocean Park Hong Kong is committed to giving guests even more reasons to visit in the coming years.
On behalf of the entire Ocean Park Hong Kong team, including Chief Executive Tom Mehrmann, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer Matthias Li, and Executive Director for Sales and Marketing Paul Pei, we would like to personally invite and thank Filipinos for their continued support and patronage. We hope to see everyone there! And as one Ocean Park guest put it, “You haven’t been to Hong Kong if you haven’t been to Ocean Park Hong Kong.”
To learn more about Ocean Park Hong Kong, visit their website at www.oceanpark.com.hk.
