Published in the SCMP January 2007
We tend to hold on to the things that we love, the things that make us happy by keeping a memory of them safely tucked away in our minds.
For the past three decades, Ocean Park has been helping to create memories for the more than 80 million visitors who have thronged its grounds.
Many people who came to visit as children or young adults years ago, now bring their own children and grandchildren to pass along some of the magic that they themselves experienced; a phenomenon that Ocean Park executives like to call the “generational value” of the park
Today Ocean Park turns 30, a major milestone by theme park standards. But things are just starting to get even more exciting for this icon of Hong Kong culture. It was named one of the world’s ten most popular amusement parks by Forbes.com last June.
Not just that – the park achieved its best ever fiscal year in 2005/06 with a record total attendance of 4.38 million people and record admission revenues of HK$538.8 million as well as record in-park spending of HK$189.5 million.
With prudent expense management, there was also a record surplus of HK$156.5 million, up 31 per cent from the previous year. “There is still a lot of life in the old lady,” remarks Dr Allan Zeman, chairman of Ocean Park. “After 30 years, this is only the beginning. It’s kind of like being re-born,” he adds.
Master Redevelopment Plan
Ocean Park is, indeed, undergoing a re-birth with a HK$5.55 billion master redevelopment project, to be rolled out in eight phases between now and 2012, that will see its animal and rides attractions double in number from 35 to 70, a new funicular transport system, three hotels on-site, more food outlets and retail stores plus a host of new entertainment events.
“We will continue to build on our strengths which are entertainment, education and conservation,” explains chief executive Tom Mehrmann. “We want to be relevant to Hong Kong.”
New attractions include potential crowd favourites like Skyfair, with its helium balloon, that should be ready in time for Chinese New Year, Whiskers Harbour targetted at the children and featuring the lovable Ocean Park mascot Whiskers, Thrill Mountain with its high energy rides and Polar Adventure.
“We are scouring the world for the best thrill rides. Each attraction will be world class,” declares Dr Zeman. “We have also hired the top designers and we have challenged them to come up with something different.”
Ocean Park’s stated aim is to be one of the best sea mammal theme parks in the world. “We are a fun park with the differential quality of the animals,” Mr Mehrmann says, citing the recently-opened Sea Jelly Spectacular, a stand-alone sea jelly exhibit with 1,000 sea jellies, as an example of why Ocean Park is different from anywhere else in the world.
The new park will cover about 120-140 acres of the available 200 acres of land, up from the current usage of 70 acres. By the time the whole redevelopment plan is complete in 2012, all attractions would have been consolidated into two areas – The Waterfront and The Summit. Right now, they are in three locations: Lowland, Headland and Tai Shue Wan.
“By using the land a little better, we will put together a more comprehensive theme park experience where one’s senses will been enlightened all the time,” explains Mr Mehrmann.
With a focus on making the in-park experience a stronger one for the guest, Ocean Park currently organises five major annual events: Summer Splash, Halloween Bash, Christmas Sensation, Lunar Lucky Fiesta and an Animal Encounter event.
This year, a sixth event, Ocean Park 30th Anniversary Party – A Celebration for the Senses, a food, music and flower festival, kicks off the park’s 30th birthday bash.
Local residents get to enter the park at no cost on their own birthdays and Hong Kong senior citizens over the age of 65, get in for free while people with disabilities, together with their escort, receive half-price admission.
Calling Ocean Park, the “people’s park”, Dr Zeman said that it was very important to have a park like this in Hong Kong, which was a terribly fast-moving and stressful place to live in, with few open spaces and places for recreation.
“Ocean Park gives people a chance to escape from where they live and put themselves into another world,” he explains. “And they don’t have to travel far to get here.”
When the redevelopment is complete, guests can opt to stay on property in any of the three hotels that are currently being studied.
There are plans for a 600-650 room hotel called Ocean Hotel located at the entrance; another called Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel with 450 rooms which will overlook the water and the fishing village in Tai Shue Wan; and a third, the boutique five-star 160-room The Summit Spa and Resort, the first spa hotel in Hong Kong, built on the hillside at the present Headland location.
“Our feeling is that if there are hotels, then we will have longer guest stays for the guests who come,” says Dr Zeman. “The location is wonderful. Ocean Park has one of the most beautiful terrains, one of the most beautiful views.”
“And it is only ten minutes to downtown Central,” he adds.