Out with a splash: departing chief of Hong Kong's Ocean Park confident attraction will hit visitor target
The outgoing boss of Ocean Park is confident the attraction will hit its target of eight million visitors a year in three years, despite what he believes is a short-term fall in tourism to the city.
Tom Mehrmann, who will leave the Wong Chuk Hang park at the end of July after 12 years in charge, said the opening of two hotels, a water park and the MTR's South Island Line would boost visitor numbers to new highs, beating the target set earlier this year.
His optimism is in spite of a sharp fall in tourist arrivals in the city for most of this year.
"We hit 7.8 million people in the calendar year of 2014. Obviously 2015 has been a bit of a rockier year and we've been talking about the decline in tourism," Mehrmann said. "The goal is still a good goal. It's a good strategy that we put out there on the horizon. And we'll get there. I think we'll probably get there in the next three years and it will start climbing again … especially with the water park, the MTR and hotels going up.
"It's just a matter of time … It will probably grow to 11 or even 12 million," he added. "The trick … is to make sure you get them spread over evenly in the whole year. … The company has been doing a pretty good job in keeping a flat demand curve."
Hong Kong's attractiveness has been hit by its strong currency and regional economic uncertainty. A rise in anti-mainland sentiment and a failure to provide fresh attractions have been cited as reasons for a slump in visits from across the border.
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But Mehrmann said Ocean Park had seen only a "slight setback" in attendance. The park, a not-for-profit statutory government body, will release figures in its annual report in December.
Mehrmann said the death last week of a mainland tourist allegedly beaten up by tour guides during a so-called "forced shopping" trip to Hong Kong could further worsen sentiment among mainland visitors. But the park could distinguish itself by conveying a welcoming message to prospective visitors, he said.
"The current tourism dip is out of our control. But we can promote the park to travellers from Korea, India, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines to backfill when there is drop in the number of mainland guests," Mehrmann said.
An American who started out sweeping floors in a theme park in California in 1977, Mehrmann rose to the managerial ranks before taking up his job in 2004. He said he opted not to renew his contract so he could spend more time visiting his father in the US and with his family. He plans to stay in Hong Kong and may return as an Ocean Park adviser, but has yet to confirm his next move. His departure follows that of chairman Allan Zeman, who left last year after 11 years.
The park was in the spotlight earlier this month when it announced giant panda Ying Ying was pregnant after four years of frustration. But joy turned to sadness a week later, when she was confirmed to have miscarried.
Mehrmann revealed Ying Ying's diet and sleep were back to normal and the park would liaise with mainland experts to see whether she was fit to be sent there for breeding again next year. "There's a real desire for her to be represented in the genetic pool," he said.
