The development of three hotels at Ocean Park will bring more tourists and revenue for Hong Kong, the company said in a paper submitted to the Legislative Council on Monday.

Ocean Park said the proposed hotels could help attract 36,800 additional visitors in the first year of operation, with total quantifiable economic benefits to rise from 102 million HK dollars (13.1 million U.S. dollars) in 2011 to 260 million HK dollars (33. 3 million U.S. dollars) in 2030.

According to the corporation's paper tabled to lawmakers here Monday, the proposed hotels, each with a distinctive theme, will offer 1,300 rooms for certain important market segments of Hong Kong's travel industry, such as family tourists, spa users and other high-yield visitors.

At the district level the projects will be a catalyst for Aberdeen's revitalization and boosting its appeal as one of Hong Kong's top tourist attractions. There will also be spillover benefits for other segments of tourist-related sectors, including the retail and restaurant business, in Southern District and Hong Kong as a whole.

Subject to town planning approval, the park plans to invite tenders for developing the hotels by year's-end and to start construction by next year's third quarter for completion in phases by 2011-12.

The proposal will generate 320 jobs upon the hotels' opening. During construction new jobs in terms of 3,180 man-years will be created in the building and construction sector, although this is one-off in nature.

The Tourism Commission said 14 new hotels were opened in Hong Kong last year, offering 4,453 more rooms and bringing the total number of hotels in the city to 140 but still lagging behind market demand.

As a non-for-profit organization providing entertainment and education in Hong Kong, Ocean Park is one of the world's most popular theme parks as more than 4 million people visit the park every year.

(Xinhua News Agency, March 18, 2008)