Ocean Park Chairman Allan Zeman, dressed as Santa Claus, meets with the press yesterday. CNS

The financial tsunami has only slightly reduced Ocean Park's attendance, but redevelopment costs have also dropped significantly, park Chairman Allan Zeman said yesterday.

Dressed as Santa Claus to promote Ocean Park's Christmas events, he told the media that tour groups from the mainland dropped in September and October.

And over the last two weeks, the numbers of local visitors, as well as those from the mainland, have dropped slightly.

However, the number of tour groups from the mainland has come back.

The park also did well during the recent Halloween festivities, recording a 15 percent increase in admissions compared with the same period last year.

Despite the economic downturn, Zeman said, the park's redevelopment plan is on track.

The plan is expected to be completed by 2012-13 at a cost of HK$5.5 billion, and it will double the park's attractions, from 35 to 70, to compete with Disneyland.

One of the new attractions will be "Amazing Asian Animals", which will feature the permanent habitat of pandas Ying Ying and Le Le and other creatures such as Chinese sturgeons. It is expected to open early next year.

The redevelopment plan also includes construction of three hotels and an MTR station on the South Island Line.

The park chief put a positive spin on the financial downturn, saying it has lowered construction costs.

Zeman stressed the park has no intention of cutting jobs or raising admission prices. He also expressed confidence in Christmas retail sales.

For the coming holiday, he hopes visitor numbers can match those of last year's more than 500,000.

To boost visitor numbers before Christmas, they are offering a 30 percent admission discount until Dec 12.

One of the main Christmas attractions at Ocean Park this year are the 200 Christmas trees in the "Christmas Starlight Forest".

By voting for the tree they like most, visitors can make a donation to a Ocean Park Conservation Foundation fund that will help pay for renovation of the giant panda habitat in Sichuan.

(HK Edition 11/13/2008 page1)