Hotels unveil panda rooms and light shows to lure tourists

Hotels are introducing panda-themed rooms and light shows to welcome tourists in response to an anticipated panda craze boosted by the debut of giant pandas An An and Ke Ke last month and two panda twin cubs also making their first public appearance after the Lunar New Year.

During the Lunar New Year period, a light show will be staged from 6pm to 10.30pm daily featuring pandas and Lunar New Year motifs at the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel along with special panda-themed accommodation packages including theme park admission and breakfast buffet.

The park expects a hike in room bookings during LNY and winter holidays from January 31 to February 28 and will arrange for additional part-time staff to cope with the large volume of guests during the peak season.

Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners executive director Caspar Tsui Ying-wai expects a satisfying number of inbound tourists with the series of LNY festival events and panda tourism, saying: “We hope hotel bookings of traditional tourism areas will reach 80 to 90 percent.”

But Tsui also expressed concerns that the Hong Kong tourism market is facing fierce challenges as many countries and regions have expanded visa-free travel arrangements, and the mainland also stepped up its efforts to promote their “cross-province travel”.

“Therefore, Hong Kong hotels' occupancy rates during the holiday season have exhibited significant fluctuations in recent years. The outcomes of this year's Lunar New Year still remain to be [seen].”

(Stacy Shi)