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South China Morning Post
5 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
From Legoland to Disney: how China is using theme parks to fuel consumer spending
As temperatures soared to a sweltering 39°C, thousands of families still lined up for the launch of China's first Legoland resort, undeterred by the heatwave. Advertisement The attraction became an instant hit – not just for children craving plastic-brick adventures, but for policymakers desperate to find the next big demand driver and jolt a weary consumer market back to life With families eager for quality experiences during the summer holidays, the spotlight is back on leisure spending – one of the few bright spots in a faltering consumer landscape , where retail sales have slumped and stimulus measures have lost steam. The fanfare surrounding Legoland Shanghai Resort , which opened its doors on July 5, coincides with a new wave of investments in the sector across China. As the largest Legoland in the world, it adds to over 4,400 attractions and amusement facilities nationwide – a figure forecast to grow at an annual rate of 19 per cent over the next three years, according to IAAPA, the global association for the theme park industry. Advertisement 'What we see is that one yuan of operating revenue has an economic impact of 3.8 yuan in the local economy,' said Jakob Wahl, CEO of IAAPA, during the IAAPA Expo Asia in Shanghai held on June 30-July 3. 'Attractions are a driver for the economy wherever they are.'
South China Morning Post
19 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Working in Hong Kong, living in Shenzhen: why people are making move to mainland city
At 8.30am on Monday, 24-year-old Lisa Sun leaves her flat in Shenzhen and begins her long commute to work. It starts with an e-bike ride through her neighbourhood, followed by a packed Metro journey, a border crossing intermission, and a similarly packed MTR trip. Ninety minutes later, she steps out into the bustle of Causeway Bay in Hong Kong – ready to start her day at the office. She repeats the same journey in reverse after work, finally getting home close to 9pm. Sun, born in the southwestern province of Sichuan, is one of a growing number of people commuting between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, trading time on the cities' subway systems for more space and lower costs. There has been a flood of posts on China's RedNote social media platform from cross-border commuters – and those considering the move – sharing tips on the best Shenzhen neighbourhoods to find a place to rent, and which checkpoints and transport options to choose. 'I decided to commute between Shenzhen and Hong Kong the day I got the job, because I wanted to live alone, but renting a flat in Hong Kong on my own would be way too expensive,' Sun said.
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong earns HK$189 million from revived hotel tax in first quarter
Hong Kong only received HK$189 million (US$24.1 million) in the first quarter under a reintroduced hotel accommodation tax, authorities have revealed, prompting some tourism industry leaders to raise concerns about whether the government can meet its HK$1.1 billion annual income target. Advertisement Sector veterans also called for more government support measures, telling the Post that the tax figures reflected that hotels were struggling and had been forced to reduce their prices to attract tourists. The 3 per cent tax, which applies to all patrons, was reintroduced on January 1. The government announced the policy's return last year and said the measure was expected to bring in HK$1.1 billion each year. The tax was previously waived in 2008. But in a reply to the Post in June, the Inland Revenue Department said the government had garnered HK$189 million under the tax in the first quarter of this year, while payments for the second quarter were not yet due at the time of its reply. Advertisement 'We aim to meet the government's tax target, but we are concerned we might not be able to meet the target,' said Caspar Tsui Ying-wai, executive director of the Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners.
