HK lawmakers propose ‘panda economy’ to boost local tourism

Hong Kong lawmakers have proposed developing a “panda economy” (大熊貓經濟) to boost tourism, following the recent birth of the city's first-ever giant panda twins at Ocean Park. 

Speaking on Commercial Radio’s programme 政經星期六, lawmaker Jeffrey Lam (林健鋒) said the birth of the two panda cubs has created diverse business opportunities that entrepreneurs could leverage through the concept of a "panda economy" to help stimulate the city's economic growth.

Lam suggested various ideas to capitalise on the panda cubs, such as having airlines decorate some of their planes with panda elements, hotels offering panda-themed packages, and manufacturers producing more panda-related merchandise and toys.

Another lawmaker Tony Tse (謝偉銓) said the government should strengthen its economic sensibilities and leverage the birth of the giant pandas to maximise economic benefits. He suggested the government could explore artistic developments related to the pandas, such as installing panda-themed art installations under footbridges or in parks, to boost the city's happiness index among residents.

Meanwhile, lawmaker Lo Wai Kwok (盧偉國), who is also the chairman of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong (香港經濟民生聯盟), has suggested that Hong Kong can introduce panda-themed MTR train carriages and creating Instagrammable panda-related photo spots at Ocean Park and other locations across the city.

Additionally, Lo proposed that a round-the-clock livestream of the panda cubs, similar to existing mainland platforms, could attract significant interest and traffic from enthusiasts. Lam has also suggested the authorities consider broadcasting live footage of the panda cubs online to further boost public engagement.

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Paulo Pong, chairman of Ocean Park Corporation, said the babies’ arrival adding to the new giant pandas soon to arrive in Hong Kong is thrilling news for Ocean Park and all of Hong Kong. 

Both cubs are currently very fragile and need time to stabilise, according to Ocean Park. Both babies are currently under 24-hour intensive care by the park’s animal care and veterinary team, as well as experts from the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP).

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