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Hong Kong Disneyland records worst-ever HK$2.66 billion loss amid COVID-19 pandemic

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Kathleen Magramo, South China Morning Post

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/scmp/05/17/20210517-hong-kong-disneyland-scmp.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Hong Kong Disneyland spent much of 2020 closed, and was forced to operate at lower capacity when it was not. Winson Wong</figcaption></figure></div>Hong Kong Disneyland has posted its worst net loss on record at HK$2.66 billion (US$347 million) – the park’s sixth straight year in the red – amid a series of closures and a near-complete absence of tourists because of the coronavirus pandemic.The loss for the financial year ending September 30, 2020, revealed by the company on Monday was far worse than the HK$105 million recorded the year prior.The embattled resort was dealt a severe blow by waves of social-distancing regulations mandated by the government and Hong Kong’s effective lockdown from the outside world. During the financial year, it was closed about 60 per cent of the time, and only allowed to operate at limited capacity even when it was open.Amid the closures, Disneyland’s revenue plunged 76 per cent to HK$1.4 billion. The loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation stood at HK$1.5 billion.Hong Kong Disneyland managing director Michael Moriarty revealed that its parent company Walt Disney had provided a HK$2.1 billion revolving facility as working capital.The resort is 53 per cent owned by the Hong Kong government, with the rest by the United States’ Walt Disney Company via the joint-venture Hong Kong International Theme Parks.“Our financial numbers are a reflection of the nature and impact of the global pandemic and do not necessarily provide a meaningful reference for future potential,” Moriarty said.The resort on Lantau Island, which celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2020, had made a profit in just three years of its existence since 2005.Park admissions slumped 73 per cent to just 1.7 million visitors – primarily Hong Kong residents – from 6.5 million people year on year. As much as 75 per cent of visitors to the park were from the local market during the 2019-20 financial year, compared to 41 per cent in the previous year.All but three Hong Kong border checkpoints have been closed since February last year, and it remains uncertain when that will change.The pandemic exacerbated an existing decline in the number of inbound tourists, which began to contract in the latter half of 2019 amid the anti-government protests.When asked whether the loss-making park would seek funding from the Hong Kong government, Moriarty said they had no such intentions.Loss-making rival Ocean Park in the Southern district secured HK$6.8 billion funding in March to stay afloat. Ocean Park’s deficit for the year ending on June 30, 2020, was doubled to HK$1.17 billion from HK$588.1 million a year ago.Despite the downturn, the Disneyland resort has pressed ahead with a HK$10.9 billion expansion drive that will continue through 2023. The flagship Castle of Magical Dreams was unveiled in November last year, and a new attraction based on the film Frozen is slated to open this year.The resort has also implemented a number of cost-saving initiatives to preserve jobs such as unpaid leave for more than 7,000 staff members, and operating only five days a week, closing every Tuesday and Thursday, since its September 2020 reopening.Moriarty stressed the company had no plans to lay off employees which included more than 5,300 full-time staff and 1,800 part-time staff and cast members.Tourism sector lawmaker Yiu Si-wing said Disneyland’s main challenge was to sustain its revenue stream by attracting locals while travel was still ground to a halt.“As long as the park can stay open during the summer months, and Hong Kong’s infection numbers remain low, that could bring the venue a minimal level of revenue,” he said.Yiu also appreciated that the park first turned to its parent company for a loan to cover its operating costs than seeking government funding in the city.“It would be challenging to pass through the Legislative Council if Disneyland seeks loans or funding from the government at this stage,” he added.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/06/18/20/hong-kongs-disneyland-reopens-after-five-month-coronavirus-break">Hong Kong&#x27;s Disneyland reopens after five-month coronavirus break</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/06/15/20/hong-kongs-disneyland-to-reopen-on-june-18-after-coronavirus-break">Hong Kong&#x27;s Disneyland to reopen on June 18 after coronavirus break</a></li></ul>

With the park open just 40 percent of the time and tourists non-existent, losses were far worse than the previous year. Despite the downturn, the resort, which is majority owned by the local government, has pressed forward with expansion plans that will last through 2023.

With the park open just 40 percent of the time and tourists non-existent, losses were far worse than the previous year. Despite the downturn, the resort, which is majority owned by the local government, has pressed forward with expansion plans that will last through 2023.

Hong Kong Disneyland records worst-ever HK$2.66 billion loss amid COVID-19 pandemic

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Hong Kong Disneyland records worst-ever HK$2.66 billion loss amid COVID-19 pandemic

Kathleen Magramo,

South China Morning Post

Published May 17, 2021 07:58 PM PHT

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