OBSERVATION: Hong Kong’s existing theme parks have not performed well financially — even in the best of years — arguably due to undersized attractions limiting visitor attendance, and high operating expenses.
SOLUTION: Provide a new destination Theme Park Resort at Guishan Island that will rival Singapore’s Sentosa Island and become the premiere destination resort for the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region.
As a partial solution to Hong Kong’s underlying land supply and housing problem, some have proposed that Zhuhai’s Guishan Island — immediately to the southwest of Lantau Island — could be leased to the HKSAR Government to help alleviate the city’s housing crisis.
However, assuming that Guishan Island could be radically redeveloped, wouldn’t it make more sense to construct housing closer to the city’s business districts, and instead redevelop Guishan Island as a new island destination resort with Theme Parks as its anchor attractions?
As Hong Kong Disneyland is owned 53% by the HKSAR Government, this international attraction could be provided with a new home featuring a bigger and better theme park more commensurate with its global brand, while the existing undersized theme park at Penny’s Bay is ultimately decommissioned and redeveloped into housing.
Could Hong Kong’s Ocean Park — a theme park facing similar financial difficulties — also be relocated, or its brand extended to a new Guishan Island multi-Theme Park Resort?
RECLAMATION PLAN
Could an ambitious reclamation project completely transform this little-known island on the fringes of the HKSAR into one of the Pearl River Delta’s premiere resort destinations? The Cotai reclamation in Macau created approximately 520 HA of new land; the proposed reclamation at Guishan Island would be twice that amount by providing up to 1,048 HA of new land in the shallow waters along the island’s existing coastline. Much of the island’s existing mountainous areas would be unsuitable for mass tourism. The total land area after reclamation in this proposal would be 1,717 HA.
resort master plan
Imagine if Hong Kong Disneyland could relocate to Guishan Island and feature a much larger theme park to better respond to the overall visitor demand from an increasingly interconnected Pearl River Delta region.
A 633 HA anchor theme park complex hosting one large theme park — or several complementary theme parks — could be supported by 6- 8 beach resort hotels located at the southern end of the island. This destination resort island could be accessible by a new tunnel linked to the existing Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macau bridge for convenient access from Hong Kong and from throughout the Pearl River Delta (PRD). A ferry terminal with a cruise ship berth could allow for marine access from the PRD as well as further afield. Could this destination become a new stopover for Asian cruise lines?
Visitors to Guishan Island could arrive at a transportation hub located at the northeastern tip of the island, by either road or water. From this point, visitors could access the Theme Park, while hotel guests could have direct road access to resorts located at the southern tip of the island via a ringroad encircling the Theme Park areas.
Day-trip Theme Park visitors could proceed on foot from the transportation hub along an enhanced lushly-landscaped coastline to the ticketing and admission areas. After entry, visitors could be greeted with a themed Chinese Fishing Village experience with retail and food and beverage opportunities, before continuing on to the Secret Lagoon and Entry Plaza. The Fishing Village lagoon could feature a bustling dockside with performers loading and unloading cargo from dozens of bobbing sailed junks, in a reimagined historic Southern China port.
The Secret Lagoon could have pirate ships engaged in daily dramatic battles with animatronic sea creatures rising up from the depths of this protected lagoon, gobbling up hapless pirates before crowds of visitors seated in an amphitheater facing the lagoon. Could the Pirates of The Caribbean franchise be implemented in this area?
The large entry plaza fronting this area could provide access to the “Main Street” of the Anchor Theme Park, or alternatively provide access to 2-3 smaller theme parks radiating out from this central arrival area, pending a market study. A separate theme park to the southeast could lead to a funicular, taking visitors to more secluded and low-impact attractions located within the existing mountainous areas of the island.
The following key visitor amenities could be provided at Guishan Island to maximize the average length of guest stay and encourage repeat visits in a comprehensively-planned theme park resort destination with a wide variety of attractions and activities:
- Anchor Theme Park
- Complimentary Theme Parks
- Flexible Theme Park Future Expansion areas, or future attractions with separate access to respond to market demand
- Indoor and Outdoor Water Park
- Jungle Theme Park at existing mountain areas
- Treetop Mountain Adventure Zone with zip-lines, aerial obstacle courses, and much more
- Themed Chinese Fishing Village with retail and F&B opportunities
- Secret Lagoon with daily pirate ship battles and animatronic sea creatures emerging from the depths
- Beach Park with secluded sand beaches for picnics, recreation, and fitness opportunities
- Sunset Beach with F&B outlets to enjoy sunset cocktails, nightly beach barbecues, and entertainment while overlooking a west-facing white sand beach
- Resort Marina and Yacht Club; could this become a new stop for the world’s yachties?
- Resort Marine Center offering excursion, snorkeling and diving trips, as well as submarine tours to southern China’s best dive spots
- 6- 8 Beach Resort Hotels with private protected swimming ocean lagoons catering to families; accommodation could range from 3-star to 5-star quality to cater to all market segments, and include extensive conferencing facilities to attract MICE business. Imagine finally having a beach resort facing a white sand beach within Hong Kong!
- Future Resort Hotel Expansion Areas
- Resort Support Areas and Staff Housing
While this is simply one resort planning firm’s vision of what COULD happen, perhaps now is that time to discuss ALL possibilities to strengthen the city’s long term tourism prospects, help solve the housing crisis, and create a better Hong Kong in the process.