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Ocean Park's one hundred millionth guest since inception walked through the Park's new entrance on Friday.
The history-making guest (Leung Wai-man, visiting the Park with his wife, two sons and relatives from Hangzhou, China) was welcomed by a group headed by Dr. Allan Zeman, Chairman of Ocean Park, and a group of exuberant performers.
The attendance achievement is not only a new milestone for both Ocean Park and Hong Kong, it is also a testament to their status as enduring international travel destinations. Having grown up with the community over the past 34 years, Ocean Park has seen its number of rides, shows and attractions grow from 12 to over 53, the number of animal ambassadors double, with a vastly wider variety of species, and its staff count expand from 300 to 1,500.
At Friday's celebration, Dr. Zeman recognized 20 long-service staff members, who shared a number of touching stories from their over 34 years of service.
A delighted Leung Wai-man, the 100 millionth guest, said, "our family and our relatives are thrilled to be a part of Ocean Park's historic moment. For us, Ocean Park not only offers excellent theme park experiences, but also provides an important opportunity for our kids to learn about animals and conservation. Our relatives from the mainland have heard a great deal about the new Aqua City theme zone, so we thought it was a great chance for us to experience all the excitement together."
Dr. Zeman said, "I would like to thank the people of Hong Kong and visitors from around the world, the Government of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Tourism Board, as well as the Park's dedicated staff for helping make this remarkable attendance achievement possible. Looking back, we can see that Park attendance grew steadily with an over 2.6 times increase in guest volume in the first 25 years, from 1.3 million in 1977 to 3.4 million in 1992. Excitement and attendance started climbing sharply, exceeding five million in 2007/08 and 2009/10, a few years after we embarked on our Master Redevelopment Plan (MRP) in anticipation of the demand for the unique combination of conservation advocacy and top-notch theme park experiences that Ocean Park offers. From what used to be almost exclusively a local attraction, the guest mix today is 60% from overseas and 40% local, which demonstrates Ocean Park's appeal as an international attraction and destination."
Hong Kong Tourism Commissioner Philip Yung Wai-hung, JP explained "over the past 34 years, Ocean Park has shown to the world Hong Kong's tireless spirit of self-betterment and put on display the wonderful support Hong Kong has received from tourists from around the globe. With this achievement of 100 million in attendance, Ocean Park has marked a new chapter in the history of Hong Kong's tourism industry.ï¼
Anthony Lau, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), congratulated Ocean Park on receiving its 100 millionth visitor, stating "this is such an important milestone for Hong Kong's tourism. As one of Hong Kong's most visited tourist attractions, Ocean Park brings together elements of entertainment, education and conservation. Through these years, the park has enjoyed huge popularity among visitors from the Mainland , as well as short- and long-haul markets, especially among the family segment. With the completion of new facilities at the attraction, the HKTB will join hands with the Park to strengthen promotions, attracting more visitors and further enhancing the city's appeal as a family destination."
For staff members who have been working at the Park since before it first opened in 1977, their most significant memories almost always revolve around special relationships they form while serving guests.
Chan Cheuk-wai, known as Wai Gor, has advanced from being a cable car operator to a cable car engineer over the years. He has kept even his uniform from some 20 years ago, which he proudly displayed at Frid

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