Ocean Park reopens with staycation offer

Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel is offering a staycation to celebrate the reopening.

Hong Kong’s Ocean Park has received the green light to go ahead and reopen this Saturday (June 13). The theme park, which is located on Hong Kong Island, has been closed since January 26 when the coronavirus pandemic hit the territory.

According to Hong Kong’s secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Edward Yau, the government wants to reboot the economy in the second half of the year. The reopening of the territory’s two major theme parks, Ocean Park and Disneyland resort, is seen as a key step in stimulating the economy following a year of social unrest, the US-China trade war and the coronavirus pandemic. 

No official date has been released as to the reopening of  the Disneyland resort on Lantau Island.

Ocean Park will be partnering with Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel to launch the Home Kong Amazing Moment Room Package to celebrate the reopening. The package includes one-night deluxe room accommodation, breakfast buffet and Ocean Park admission for two adults and one child. Guests will also receive dining vouchers valued at HK$1,000 for use at the hotel or designated restaurants in the park.

A host of resident-exclusive offers is being used to entice Hong Kongers back to the attraction. The first 100 guests to enter the park on June 13 will receive a welcome gift. Further offers include free admission for children aged 11 years and under and they will also be entitled to a ‘Buy HK$50 Get HK$50 Free’ coupon for skill games. Adults will receive a 30% discount on admission, bringing entry tickets down to HK$350, and will receive the equivalent of a full rebate in the form of cash vouchers valued at HK$350 for spending at the park’s designated food kiosks, restaurants and souvenir shops. 

Local residents who missed complimentary birthday admission during the temporary closure will be offered free admission from June 13 to July 12 on presentation of their Hong Kong Identity Card of birth certificate. 

For SmartFun Annual Pass Holders, membership validity will be automatically extended and an additional one-month membership will be added to compensate for park closures on Tuesday in June and July.

Ocean Park has struggled for survival during its three-and-a-half month enforced closure. Chief executive officer Matthias Li warned in May that the attraction could run out of cash by September. He estimated Ocean Park had missed out on nearly one million visitors during the shutdown.

“As the fight against COVID-19 continues around the world, market conditions will remain extremely difficult in the near future,” said Li in a statement this week. “The park must continue to adopt prudent cost-saving measures, which include the extension of a pay-cut for the management team and no pay leave arrangements for staff members.”

The park has introduced “strict precautionary measures” to safeguard the public. It will initially operate a six-day week and will close on Tuesdays, a schedule that will run until July 31.

All visitors will be temperature checked before entry and masks must be worn at all times inside the park, except when eating. The park will operate at a 25% reduced capacity in the first two weeks of reopening, which will gradually increase to 50%. Ride capacity will be reduced by half.

The Giant Panda Adventure will be temporarily closed. Resident panda Ying Ying is suspected of being pregnant and park vets want to observe her. The reopening of the attraction will depend on her condition. 

A new animal exhibit, Little Meerkat & Giant Tortoise Adventure, is scheduled to open in July. 

Get your groove back at Four Seasons Hong Kong.

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