Hong Kong’s tourism industry is buzzing with excitement over the arrival of panda twins, born to Ying Ying, a resident of Ocean Park. These adorable newcomers, along with two young adult pandas gifted by Beijing, promise to attract visitors and inject fresh energy into the city’s tourism landscape.
The birth of the twins, following years of attempts, has prompted tourism experts and lawmakers to propose integrating the six pandas into Hong Kong’s branding strategy. They envision exclusive panda-themed products, decorations featuring the adorable creatures, and even the possibility of painting Cathay Pacific Airways planes with panda designs.
The arrival of these pandas, a small but significant family, has also sparked renewed efforts by Ocean Park to explore new revenue streams. The chairman of Ocean Park emphasized the importance of maximizing the attraction of hosting six pandas in one location. Pong, who played a key role in negotiating the transfer of the two young adult pandas from Beijing, assured that Ocean Park is fully prepared to care for all six pandas, both in terms of staff and resources.
To celebrate the newborns, Ocean Park has launched a new social media account, sharing a video of one of the cubs being bottle-fed, with plans to provide regular updates on the pandas. Ying Ying, a first-time mother at the age of 19 (equivalent to 57 human years), delivered a female cub followed by a male.
Legislator Chan Yung highlighted the potential of these pandas to transform the city’s tourism landscape. He recommended utilizing outdoor exhibits, creating licensed merchandise, and painting Cathay Pacific planes with panda-themed designs.
Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, encouraged Ocean Park to develop panda-related intellectual property to fully leverage the tourism appeal of the bears. He also suggested that the city consider replacing its current dragon mascot with a giant panda.
Freddy Yip Hing-ning, president of the Hong Kong Travel Agent Owners Association, acknowledged the potential of the pandas to bring “new elements” to local tourism. However, he cautioned against expecting a significant influx of tourists solely for the purpose of seeing the pandas.
As the pandas settle into their new home, Hong Kong eagerly anticipates the economic and cultural impact they will have on the city. The arrival of this adorable family has ignited hopes of a vibrant tourism future, with pandas taking center stage.
