Latest news with #familytourism
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong hoping ‘Summer Viva' campaign will make tourists extend stays
The Hong Kong Tourism Board will ramp up efforts to encourage family and business visitors to extend their stay in the city by promoting diverse travel experiences, the body's new chief has said. Advertisement Board chairman Peter Lam Kin-ngok said on Friday that Hong Kong could no longer rely on past glories by only promoting itself as a food and shopping paradise and should capitalise on the increased number of tourists and opportunities brought by the current geopolitical situation. 'Hong Kong is safe for family tourism. You don't find any other places like Hong Kong, safe and convenient with multiple choices for your choosing,' Lam, whose tenure started in April, said. Hong Kong welcomed 12.2 million arrivals in the first quarter of 2025, a 9 per cent year-on-year increase, the largest quarterly growth since travel resumed after the Covid-19 pandemic. Arrivals plummeted by 94 per cent year on year to 3.57 million in 2020 as the pandemic struck, compounding an already sharp decline seen from months of social unrest, with daily visitor numbers falling from 200,000 in the first half of 2019 to below 3,000 in February 2020. Advertisement 'My biggest challenge as the new chairman is I don't blindly just chase visitor arrival numbers, more important is the quality. And one big challenge is how to keep the tourists to stay in Hong Kong longer,' Lam said, adding that currently tourists stayed for an average of 3.2 nights.
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Disney Theme Park Announced For Yas Island Abu Dhabi
The most magical kingdom is set to open on Yas Island Waterfront His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, have announced a partnership that will see The Walt Disney Company open a new Disney theme park on Yas Island. The park will open on Yas Island waterfront, perfectly located as a hub for major tourism markets across the Middle East, Africa, India, Asia and Europe. This project will become Disney's seventh theme park destination worldwide, following its parks in California, Florida, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai. His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral, said: 'Abu Dhabi stands as a unique model where authentic heritage meets a bold vision for the future, where we preserve our past while laying solid foundations for a promising tomorrow. The collaboration between Abu Dhabi and Disney demonstrates the remarkable results of combining visionary leadership and creative excellence,' he explained. 'What we are creating with Disney in Abu Dhabi is a whole new world of imagination — an experience that will inspire generations across the region and the world, creating magical moments and memories that families will treasure forever. Through the development of unique attractions and experiences, Abu Dhabi continues to reinforce its position as a leading global destination for cultural and family tourism.' Miral will oversee the full development and construction of the new resort, while Disney will spearhead the creative design, attraction development, and operational leadership to deliver a world-class guest experience. Bob Iger, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company said: 'This is an extraordinary opportunity for Disney to bring its renowned storytelling to yet another region of the world with a completely new theme park experience that will be a cultural, entertainment and technological marvel.' While there is no official date confirmed for the project build or indeed its big reveal, we're certain that there will be plenty of fans young and old waiting with baited breath—get your mouse ears at the ready.
