HONG KONG - THE Hong Kong government has urged Disney to improve its management of the local theme park after failing to attract the anticipated visitor numbers.

Mr Frederick Ma, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, said the attraction has strengthened Hong Kong's brand as a culturally diverse society and its position as a major tourism centre in the region.

But while it has also boosted job opportunities, Mr Ma said the park had attracted fewer than the 5.5 million visitors expected in its second year of operation.

'The first two years of Hong Kong Disneyland's operation was not satisfactory and the park is still taking time to adapt to the local operational environment,' Mr Ma said in the Legislative Council at its weekly meeting.

'The government will continue to urge the park management to formulate cost-effective business strategies, improve the park's operational efficiency and work more closely with the local travel trade,' he added.
Hong Kong Disneyland, 57-per-cent-owned by the government, drew around 5.2 million visitors in its first year. But it struggled to reach four million visitors in its second, well below its capacity of 34,000 a day.

Last month, Mr Ma said the park is too small - one of the reasons why it has failed to draw visitors.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE