Jaunted

Disneyland

Disneyland Travel: Hong Kong Gets Aggressive

September 12, 2008 at 9:00 AM | 3 Comments

Pretty much every time we mention the Hong Kong edition of Disneyland we're telling you about its miserable visitor numbers and general failure to excite the people of the region. Today Hong Kong Disneyland turns three and we're here to tell you: It's still got miserable visitor numbers.

To be perfectly honest, we're not sure if the numbers are that bad--but the fact that they're now keeping them secret isn't a good sign. However, Hong Kong Disneyland now has a new managing director and a new strategy: Aggressively attacking the Chinese market.

New MD Andrew Kam has spent years selling Coca-Cola to the Chinese so convincing them that Disneyland is for them sounds right down his alley. It's probably a good thing he's focusing on that market, because as for us, we're not the slightest bit interested in checking out the Hong Kong version of Mickey. Even if it is his birthday.

Related Stories:
· New HK Disneyland Director Sees Aggressive Growth [IHT]
· Unhappy Birthday to Hong Kong Disneyland [Jaunted]
· Mickey and Hong Kong Don't Mix [Jaunted]

[Photo: coconut wireless]

Tourist Scams

Bondi At $100 A Snap

June 26, 2007 at 9:18 AM | 0 Comments

The Chinese are just starting to get out and discover the world in droves, but a few of them will be thinking twice before heading back to Australia. Down Under might normally be seen as some kind of holiday paradise, but a few unscrupulous tourist operators have really been taking advantage of Chinese tourists' inexperience and poor English skills, with a few really sad scams taking place.

The worst of these is when the Chinese tourists are told there's an entry fee for Bondi Beach--they have to pay $100 to have their photo taken there. The same story is repeated outside Sydney Opera House, though surely the Chinese must wonder about how other tourists just seem to wander up and take a picture without handing anyone any cash. The Australian government is trying to crack down on the scammers. Next they'll be charging for sunlight or blue skies.

Related Stories:
· Bondi Beach Hotels [HotelChatter]
· Chinese Pay $100 To Go For A Walk At Bondi Beach [SMH]

[Photo: rmcarrier1]