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.