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Disneyland's magic doubted after ticket row
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-02-04 15:13
Happiness and inspiration are what promised by Walt
Disney Co. when opening the Hong Kong Disneyland five months ago.
Hundreds of
tourists wait outside the iron gate in front of Hong Kong Disneyland
February 2, 2006. Hundreds of tourists holding tickets gathered outside
the theme park demanding for entry on Thursday after they were turned away
as the theme park was full. [Reuters] |
The park's magic of extending laughter and dreams, however, has been doubted
after hundreds of tourists with tickets were denied entry into the park during
the Chinese New Year holidays that end on Saturday in China's mainland.
For two days continuously, Wednesday and Thursday, more than one hundred
visitors were shut out of the park, which met the daily maximum reception
capability soon after opening. All those couldn't get in held advanced-purchased
tickets valid for half a year and most of them came far away, such as cities in
the mainland.
Images of fuming tourists waving tickets, some scaling up the iron grill and
a few raising their kids across the gate have been repeatedly broadcast through
local cable TV.
The TV footage has raised concerns of the Government of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (HKSAR), which made it clear that the government will keep
watching the development of the situation so as to guard Hong Kong's position in
tourists' hearts.
Hong Kong Disneyland has started selling half year-valid ticket since January
3. People booking tickets through internet or tour agency can visit the park on
any date during the half year since the purchase day.
The ticket policy is aimed to give visitors more convenience in booking, but
incapable to control the number of daily visitors.
The ticket incident of Disneyland has affected the image of Hong Kong and the
government would follow up the park's arrangement over advance ticket selling,
the Financial Secretary Henry Tang was quoted by Saturday's Oriental Daily News
as saying.
Holding 57 percent of the Hong Kong Disneyland, the HKSAR government has
expected Disneyland's magic to improve local employment, increase government
revenue and promote the city's tourism.
Therefore, the government shouldered HK$23 billion (US$2.97 billion), or 82
percent of the HK$27 billion (US$3.49 billion), in reclaiming land and
developing the Lantau Island site for the theme park.
During its operation of nearly five months, the Hong Kong Disneyland,
however, have never stepped out of the shadow of a series of negative public
relation incidents.
From the report of forcing out food safety inspectors, exposure of low
visitor turnout and the recent ticket incident, the theme park not only raised
doubt over its management capability but also incurred media question over the
value of the promoted "Disney Culture."
"That ticket holders were refused entry for two days continuously reflects
the (Disneyland) management is lack of the capability to adapt to changing
situation. The management is disappointing," said Ming Pao, a Chinese Daily.
The other newspaper Wen Wei Pao said, "to save the reputation of Disneyland
or even that of the Hong Kong tourism, the park has to improve its culture of
how to receive visitors." An editorial published by the newspaper asked the park
to consider the needs of those guests coming far away.
"People have again been disappointed with and doubted the quality of their
(Disneyland's) management, their attitude to guests and the so-called 'Disney
Culture'," said an editorial by Ta Kung Pao.
Despite of the criticism, about 1,000 tourists started lining outside the
Hong Kong Disneyland at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, earlier than the opening
time of 8:30.
In a bid to make up, the theme park has extended opening hours and its
executive vice president Bill Ernest made apology in a written statement twice.
"We apologize to any guests who were inconvenienced and we appreciate their
continued support," said the statement.
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