Hong Kong Disneyland - Research Proposal Example

Introduction Hong Kong is considered as one of the fastest growing country in terms of economy. The country's tourism industry is said to be one of the reasons why the country's economy is continuously booming up. When the infamous Disneyland was built inside Hong Kong, more and more tourist from major countries around the world became keener in visiting Hong Kong. This newly built tourist attraction added glamour to the city. Citizens from New Zealand, Australia, and from other Asian countries like the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and many more are just few among the many visitors of this country. This paper is aimed at analyzing the impacts that Hong Kong Disneyland has brought to the country's tourism industry. Specifically, this paper is intended for: Providing background information regarding Disney Land as the newly built attraction in Hong Kong Analyzing the feedbacks of the visitors and the Hong Kong residents regarding Disneyland Identifying the negative and positive impacts that the attraction has been giving the country The Establishment of Disneyland in Hong Kong It was in November of 2009 when the agreement with Hong Kong SAR government officials and Walt Disney Company was finally made to order. Walt Disney Company has proposed for its plans of setting up a 126-hectare theme park to be built as one of the anchor of tourism in Hong Kong's Lantau Island. The plan consists of establishing six concepts generalizing the whole theme park. These concepts include Main Street USA concept (which is the dramatic entry to the park), Fantasyland concept (which will highlight the Disney animated characters and stories), Toontown concept (that provides venue for the visitors to actually meet the Disney characters in a whimsical roller coaster), the Adventureland concept (which will highlight several of the movies produced by Disney such as the Lion King), the Frontierland concept (where the visitors will feel the breeze of the Old Western living), and the Tomorrowland concept (showcasing the world of sci-fi fantasies and adventure). The plan also includes three to four Disney - themed resort hotels offering up to 2,100 hotel rooms to be constructed adjacent to the Park. A variety of shopping and dining experiences within a proposed 28,000-square-meter retail, dining and entertainment complex is also part of the initial plan for overall Hong Kong Disneyland experience (http://www.wdwmagic.com/hong_kong.htm, 1999). And in September of 2005, the magic really began in Hong Kong when Hong Kong Disneyland started its operation. Feedbacks from the Visitors The tourists from who visited Hong Kong Disneyland have varied feedbacks about the said tourist attraction. Some are satisfied with the theme park while there are some who thinks that this is just pure media hype. Some of the interviewed visitors revealed that: "The site is very good. Having Disneyland here in Hong Kong, which is very near to my country, is a very good idea. Disneyland is very famous. Having this in Hong Kong means that we don't need to go to the US or to other country just to know what is inside Disneyland." - Kkona Leh, from Shen Zhen China "Hong Kong Disneyland is like the other Disneyland I was able to visit. the effects, the characters, the sites to see are almost the same. The only difference is that HK Disneyland is a bit smaller from those other Disneyland". - Bernadette Ajero from the Philippines. "Hong Kong Disneyland is quite famous in my country because this is the nearest country from us where we can feel the magic of Disneyland. Most of us, Kiwis, are aspiring to see this new tourist attraction here in Hong Kong, and I'm glad I just did. - Chelsea Carrel from New Zealand. From these feedbacks from the tourists who came from different countries, it can be inferred that many tourist became more attracted to visit Hong Kong because of their aspiration to see and feel Disneyland. This feedbacks has also reiterated the comment stated by Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. He disclosed that Disney's own surveys found out that 80% pf the parks' visitors provided a satisfaction rate, which is among the highest of any of the company's parks" (Schuman, 2006). From the local visitors, these are the things they have to say: "Having Disneyland here is very good. We get to see the famous works of Disney. But more than that, businesses here, especially beside the area of Disneyland, are booming also". A lady from Hong Kong who does not wish to be identified. "My Disneyland experience was not great. I expect more because the media told us more, but what I saw did not satisfy me that well." - An old man from Hong Kong who does not wish to be identified. "It seems that every here in Hong Kong is being redefined to align with Disneyland. The transportation, the products and even some of the Holidays in Hong Kong. Having this Disneyland is a good experience, but not everybody is happy about it. Some other tourist spots like are negatively affected. Disneyland becomes the most preferred attraction nowadays, that is why it will mean lower earning from the other tourist sites" - A man from Hong Kong who does not wish to be identified. With these feedbacks, it can be generalized that residents of Hong Kong can also see that HK Disneyland is offering a very good venue to further improve the economy of the country. Though, there are some that thinks that the other tourist spots are negatively affected, still this will sum up that Hong Kong's economy is gaining positive earnings because of Disneyland's establishment. The Impact of Disneyland to Hong Kong's Tourism Industry Since the coming of the new millennium, tourism industry in Hong Kong has been tremendously growing. In 2004 alone, visitor arrivals in Hong Kong reached 21.81 million, which is a 40.4% year-on-year increase. This record no only exceeded the frequency of arrivals in 2003 but it also found to have topped the previous record of 16.57 million arrivals in 2002 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Hong_Kong, 2006). In January of 2005 to April of the same year, visitor arrivals kept on growing recording an astounding 11.1% growth and have already reached 7.41 million. Before Hong Kong Disneyland was established, policy makers of Hong Kong are already optimistic that building this theme park will add more prestige in Hong Kong's tourism industry. In fact, Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) had forecasted that the total arrivals for 2005 will reach 23.4 million and the total tourism expenditure associated to inbound tourism will also be expected to reach HK$97.8 billion for 2005 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Hong_Kong, 2006). HKTB has forecasted it right. Since the establishment of Disneyland in Hong Kong, the country has started repositioning itself as the premier destination for family tourists in Asia (Tourism in Hong Kong, 2006). In fact, this newly built tourist attraction promises to bring net economic benefits of HK$148 billion over the next 40 years or so (Information Services Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, 2006). Hong Kong Disneyland has also contributed, and is continually contributing to the expansion of the country's resource markets (Tourism in Hong Kong, 2006). The construction of this tourist attraction has also paved the way for the establishment of two other new attractions in the country which Hong Kong Wetland Park and Ngong Ping 360 (such as the Ngong Ping Skyrail and Ngong Ping Village). Both of these were built during the early months of 2006 (Information Services Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, 2006). Lastly, the products of Hong Kong are also being promoted because of Disneyland. Because many of the tourists will simply roam around the country after or before entering the Disneyland main site, the can of course see the native products of Hong Kong. More often than not, foreign tourists will try Hong Kong's local delicacy, clothing and all other items that at are unique in Hong Kong. This is an additional boost to the economy of the country. However there are some and minor presumed negative effects of Disneyland in Hong Kong's tourism industry. On the park's first few months of opening, there have been many complaints regarding the long queuing system, the unavailability of food choices in the park, the 'smallness' of the total land area, etc. These feedbacks are all recorded or printed in the tri-media around the world. This alone offers threat to the country's tourism industry. With this negative feedback to one of the world's famous theme park, foreign tourists might think that Hong Kong cannot provide a good venue for the tourists to enjoy and relax (Schuman, 2006). This notion is not yet proven but many are really concerned and worrying about the possibility of this threat. Conclusion The newly built tourist attraction in Hong Kong - the Hong Kong Disneyland - is offering a tremendous leap forward to the country's economy and tourism industry. Not only has it marked Hong Kong as among the world's premium tourist spot for the family. It also enhances the production and promotion of the country's local products that foreign tourists also enjoy. Indeed, from its very opening day up to this time, Hong Kong Disneyland has provided the country with numerous positive impacts. Works Cited: "Hong Kong Disneyland. 1999. online] viewed: 24 August 2006. http://www.wdwmagic.com/hong_kong.htm "Hong Kong Disneyland. 2006. [online] viewed: 24 August 2006. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Hong_Kong, 2006). "Hong Kong: The Facts". August 2006. Information Services Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. www.tourism.gov.hk/resources/english/paperreport_doc/fact/2006-08-04/Tourism-e_2006-8-3.pdf Schuman, Michael. May 2006. "Disney's Hong Kong Headache". TIME. [online] viewed: 24 August 2006. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1191881,00.html "Tourism in Hong Kong". May 2006. [online] viewed: 24 August 2006. www.info.gov.hk/info/hkin/tourism.pdf Interviews: Kkona Leh - Shen Zhen China Bernadette Ajero - Philippines. Chelsea Carrel - New Zealand. And three Anonymous people from Hong Kong Total word count: 1532 Read More