In a bid to boost tourism, Hong Kong is all set to introduce a “panda frenzy” as part of its efforts to revive its struggling tourism industry. The city’s focus is on its six panda cubs which are central to its tourism strategy. This weekend, the highly anticipated public debut of twin six-month-old panda cubs at Ocean Park is expected to draw attention.
The goal is to replicate the viral success of Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo in Thailand whose rise to fame last year led to a surge in visitors. The cubs’ debut is seen as a “game changer” for Ocean Park, which has already experienced increased visitation, according to Paulo Pong, the theme park’s chairman. He noted that attendance is approaching pre-pandemic numbers, an encouraging sign for the park’s recovery.
However, the real challenge is turning this temporary increase in visitors into sustained growth for Hong Kong’s tourism sector. Despite the recent uptick in visitors—about 45 million people visited last year, up 31% from 2023—numbers remain significantly lower than the pre-COVID highs of 65 million in 2018.
Tourism is still recovering from several setbacks, including the 2019 protests, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the imposition of a national security law, which reduced the city’s appeal to international travelers. Meanwhile, economic challenges have also impacted spending by mainland Chinese tourists, who make up the majority of Hong Kong’s visitors.
The Hong Kong government has ambitious plans for tourism, hoping to generate HK$120 billion ($15.4 billion) by 2029, up from HK$75.3 billion in 2023. Retail sales also dropped for a 10th consecutive month in December, and the same month, Hong Kong’s leader sacked the tourism chief, adding to the pressure on the city’s pandas, which represent Hong Kong’s largest panda population outside mainland China.
The cubs’ birth in August was a landmark event. Ying Ying, the world’s oldest first-time panda mother at 19 years old, gave birth to the twins—dubbed “Elder Sister” and “Younger Brother.” The public debut of these cubs, along with the recent introduction of five-year-old pandas Ke Ke and An An, is expected to continue drawing large crowds to Ocean Park, boosting both tourism and the park’s popularity.
Pandas, while native to southwestern China, are often used as diplomatic gifts or tourism draws, with some cities, like Washington, D.C., paying millions annually for the privilege of housing them.
