Hong Kong Disneyland is surely not the only tourist attraction of Hong Kong, yet it will must be the trump card of Hong Kong tourism after opening, bringing in a big flow of tourists and stimulating the economy. 

The theme park said Wednesday that the only two hotels in the park have been fully booked several months after its opening on September 12. Over 1,000 couples showed interest in holding a fairy tale wedding in Disneyland style, though the expenses will be over 150,000 Hong Kong dollars.

The tourism promotion of "Discover the Hong Kong Magic" in Beijing and Guangzhou this week has provoked more enthusiasm in the Chinese mainland.

Many travel agencies in Beijing and Shanghai plan to develop new travel packages putting Hong Kong Disneyland as the main attraction. China Travel Service Hong Kong said it will organize about 5,000 tourists to taste Hong Kong Disneyland before its formal opening. China Youth Travel Service said it will offer a 4-day Disneyland package tour with a night stay at the Disneyland hotel.

Hong Kong financial chief Henry Tang said Wednesday that after the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland, there will be 60 buses from Guangdong province to the park to meet the transportation demand of the tourists.

Analysts said comparing with Tokyo, ticket prices of Hong Kong Disneyland are more competitive and will be more attractive to visitors from the Chinese mainland and Southeast Asia.

Last year, the number of visitors to Hong Kong reached a record high of 21.8 million. Hong Kong Tourism Board expected that after the opening of Disneyland, visitors to Hong Kong this year will reach 23 million and it will increase to 27 million next year, among which one third will be mainland visitors.

When Hong Kong signed the agreement with Disneyland six years ago, the government believed the theme park will not only help Hong Kong build a new international image, but also create more jobs and push the economy.

It is now expected that after the opening of the first phase, the theme park will bring 18,000 jobs and a revenue of 148 billion Hong Kong dollars (US$19 billion).

Hong Kong government has invested about 31 billion Hong Kong dollars to build new attractions over the past few years, including Disneyland and wetland park, to appeal visitors from different markets and segments.

Hong Kong was ranked, for the first time, one of the top 10 tourism destinations in 2004, according to the data released by the World Tourism Organization.

Clara Chong, Hong Kong tourism chief said: "Hong Kong will package new tourism products and existing attractions to present the city as one of the world's hottest must-visit destinations."

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2005)