Entrance prices at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park rise by 4%

Hong Kong theme park Ocean Park has announced that it is to raise its admission prices by 4% to increase revenue and offset its growing costs.

Despite receiving 5.8 million visitors last year, the popular attraction lost HK$236.5 million (US$30.3 million) last year.

Now an adult ticket costs HK$498 (US$63.50) under the new arrangement, and a child’s ticket will cost HK$249 (US$31.75) - an increase of 3.75%. The price increase will be delayed for Hong Kong residents from 31st August.

With Hong Kong Disneyland also have increased its admission prices, Ocean Park Chairman Leo Kung Lin-cheng said the price rises reflected the company’s increasing costs, explaining “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.

Ocean Park’s losses in the last financial year marked its third straight year in the red. It lost HK$234 million (US$29.8 million) in the financial year ending 30th June 2017, following a HK$241 million (US$30.7 million) deficit the year before.

An Ocean Park spokeswoman told the South China Morning Post that mainland tourists accounted for 40% of the entertainment park’s total visitors last year, with locals accounting for another 40% and the rest coming from overseas.

Ocean Park's price rise is in line with its rival Disneyland on Lantau Island, which increased prices by an average of 3% in April.

The Disney park increased admission prices for adults to HK$639 (US$81.4 million), and prices for children to HK$475 (US$60.53 million). Annual passes also got more expensive, with a platinum membership priced at HK$3,599 (US$460), HK$2,059 (US$262) for gold and HK$1,278 (US$162) for silver.

Hong Kong Tourism Association Executive Director Timothy Chui Ting-pong said the extent of the Ocean Park fee rise was acceptable, telling the South China Morning Post “it has been losing money, and the increase is moderate and still bearable for tourists.”