It's just been announced that our beloved Ocean Park is set to receive $10.6 billion dollars in government funding so that it can revamp its existing facilities to attract more visitors. Seven zones with 20 new attractions will be created based on the park’s waterfront design with the funding. A new zone that will be created is Azure Bay, which It will serve as a pier where visitors can board a ferry that will take them to the new promenade at Deep Water Bay and Tai Shue Wan. En route they can enjoy the coastal views of the Southern district.
A visitor favourite show that will be scrapped is the 20- minute Ocean Wonders dolphin performance – which probably comes as a relief to animal rights activists in Hong Kong. The show will be replaced by a new attraction called Explorer’s Wharf. Expected to be ready by 2023-24, the attraction is billed as a safe environment for marine animals with underwater viewing opportunities.
The government assistance does come as a relief for the ailing park. Due to the current political climate and the stiff competition from other themed resorts in Hong Kong and China, Ocean park has been operating at a loss for the past year, with visitors down a whopping 30% in recent months. It turns out that life is a roller coaster for theme parks, too. By Ananta Agarwal