Ngong Ping 360 welcomed over 1.62 million visitors in 2015 A series of promotions to be launched to reward guests in 2016

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1 CA07/2016 Ngong Ping 360 welcomed over 1.62 million visitors in 2015 A series of promotions to be launched to reward guests in 2016 (Hong Kong, 1 March 2016) Being recognised as one of 10 of the world s most amazing cable car experiences, Ngong Ping 360 takes seriously its mission to provide guests with a unique travel experience through launching a range of new programmes and services, striving to be the gateway to Lantau Island West and a must-visit tourist destination. A number of factors, including the launch of visa relaxation measures by several South East Asian countries, the completion of new large-scale tourist attractions in neighbouring regions and the depreciation of foreign currencies, saw the total number of overnight tourists visiting Hong Kong decline in The visitation of Ngong Ping 360 reached to 1.62 million in 2015, which was an 11% decline from 1.83 million in However, because of weather conditions and maintenance, 2015 had fewer operating days than Hence, the average number of guests last year was 5,100 per day, just a 3.6% decline from % of guests came from Western and Asian countries, 29% from China and Macau, and 21% were Hong Kong residents. In view of 2015 s figures, Ngong Ping 360 was under pressure in the first to third quarters last year due to a number of external factors. Following the continuous efforts on overseas promotion, there was a significant increase in visitors from South East Asia in the fourth quarter, with Thailand (46%), the Philippines (31%) and Taiwan (24%) recording the highest growth rates in that quarter. During the recent Lunar New Year public holidays, we have launched 2 new thematic activities, namely, Ip Man Experience Hall and Ngong Ping 360 Meets Hello Kitty at Happy Lantau Fest, which greatly enhanced the attractiveness of Ngong Ping Village, resulting in a 1.5% increase in guest numbers compared to the same period last year. Between its opening and its closure on 21 February, Ip Man Experience Hall welcomed over ten thousand guests from all over the world, clear evidence of its popularity. Guests gained admission to the hall with package tickets or admission tickets redeemed by spending at Ngong Ping Village. After deducting operating cost, 10% of proceeds from designated package sales related to Ip Man Experience Hall, together with a special donation, a total amount of HK$88,000 was donated to The Boys and Girls Clubs Association of Hong Kong on behalf of Ngong Ping 360 and Pegasus Motion Pictures Limited. 1

2 Ngong Ping 360 Managing Director Dr Stella Kwan said: Last year, we rolled out brand new cross-sectoral collaboration with the films Monster Hunt and Ip Man 3 to facilitate the development of both industries. In the coming year, she added, the company would continue to actively explore the cross-industry or cross-sectoral opportunities to add new elements to Hong Kong s tourism industry. Rewarding guests with series of promotions We received positive feedback on several of our special offers, namely, the free-of-charge offer for children and HK$20 cable car ride for senior citizens, which were rolled out in April and June of last year, respectively. Accordingly, we will bring them back this year as a reward for the extraordinary support we have received from Hong Kong citizens. From 21 March to 15 May this year, every adult who purchases a regularly priced standard cabin cable car ticket or 360 Fun Pass (standard cabin) will be eligible to bring along children aged 3 to 11 1 for just HK$1. Further, upon the purchase of one regularly priced cable car ticket, Hong Kong citizens aged 65 or above 2 can bring 3 elderly friends 3 to enjoy the same free-of-charge cable car ride in June (except weekends and public holidays), enabling senior citizens to have an enjoyable day out with friends and experience the Cable cars: 10 amazing rides around the world. New guided tour to enhance the local travel experience Through its wholly owned licensed tour operator 360 Holidays, Ngong Ping 360 launches an extraordinary guided tour each year to enrich guests tourism experience. This year s tour 360's Fishing Village Insight Tour will take in a number of local tourist attractions. After taking the cable car to Ngong Ping, guests will visit The Big Buddha, Po Lin Monastery and The Grand Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas under the guidance of professional tour guide. Then, they will take a coach to Tai O Fishing Village to search for Chinese White Dolphins by boat. They can also visit a stilt house in Tai O to get a taste of what life was like for fishermen in the past. While touring Tai O s Seafood Street, guests will also be able to try three Tai O delicacies: soybean custard, doughnuts and big fishballs. Finally, guests will return to Tung Chung by a traditional ferry. The well-planned compact schedule not only enables our guests to experience a sky-land-sea adventure, but also satisfies their needs for dining, 1 Children are required to present a valid identity document or Hong Kong birth certificate, and must be accompanied by a person aged 15 or above. 2 Senior citizens are required to present a valid Hong Kong Identity Card or Senior Citizen Card to enjoy this offer. 3 Only eligible for Hong Kong citizens aged 65 or above with a valid Hong Kong Identity Card or Senior Citizen Card. 2

3 shopping and fun. Actively exploring overseas markets The government launched a matching fund scheme last year to subsidise local tourist attractions overseas promotion efforts. The scheme provides direct and effective support to our industry. With the subsidy from the matching fund, we are pleased to effectively double the effectiveness of our promotion resources. Matching funds of around HK$2 million for 14 items in total have allowed the Ngong Ping 360 Commerce Team to carry out a number of promotional activities, for instance, a product recommendation and explanation session with up-to-date information, advertisements and promotions in cooperation with partnering travel agencies, in several countries. The aim is to bring more foreign tourists to Hong Kong and enhance NP360 s level of recognition overseas. To match the peak and low seasons of various countries and cities, we have invested resources and carried out promotional activities in high-growth potential markets, such as mainland China, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and India, between November of last year and February of this year. We also plan to launch promotional activities in Australia and the USA in February and March this year. We believe that the additional promotion resulting from the matching fund will bring positive results to Ngong Ping 360 s business in the first half of this year. Safety first: maintaining a high standard of cable car reliability Taking seriously the need to uphold safety, the company takes a preventive approach and has invested significant resources in maintenance. In addition to regular repairs and maintenance, we predict the performance of mechanical parts based on their condition, and arrange appropriate maintenance. Thanks to these efforts, the cable car service achieved record-high average reliability of 99.88% in We have formulated short-, medium- and long-term maintenance strategies, and daily monitoring of the cable car system is conducted by a professional team. Regular inspections and maintenance work are carried out throughout the year with the aim of providing a safe and reliable service for our guests. The cable car service will be closed temporarily for scheduled maintenance on 14 to 20 March 2016 (both dates inclusive). HKID cardholders whose birthdays fall during the maintenance period will be able to redeem their free birthday cable car rides on any other day in March Ngong Ping Village, Stage 360, Motion 360 and Walking with Buddha will remain open during the period. Guests will be able to either purchase our special coach packages at the Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal or take other transportation to Ngong Ping Village. Ngong Ping 360 will inform the public about the service suspension through notices on its website and at 14 MTR 3

4 stations, including signs on the Tung Chung line and interchange stations, broadcasts at stations on the MTR Tung Chung line and notices at Tat Tung Road, Mei Tung Street and the Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal. (Please refer to Table 1 for scheduled maintenance days in 2016). Track rope maintenance Established in 2006, the Ngong Ping cable car is the longest bi-cable ropeway in Asia, with a total length of 5.7 km. The cable car system comprises a track rope and haul rope. The track rope is the guardrail that supports the weight of the cabins, and the haul rope is responsible for pulling the cabins, making them move along the track rope. The cable car system operates in an outdoor environment for long periods of time, placing heavy demands on the track rope. Hence, during the system s construction, the overseas manufacturer placed 10 years of back-up rope close to the limit of our storage capacity in reserve at the cable car terminal to facilitate regular rope shifting and ensure that the track rope operates in optimal conditions. Rope replacement is a normal and necessary process for a bi-cable ropeway, and takes place at regular intervals in all similar cable car systems around the world. The Ngong Ping cable car has now been operating for almost a decade. Given the importance of cable car safety and reliability, as well as the design features of the track rope, Ngong Ping 360 has conducted a rope replacement study with overseas rope experts in We are currently formulating a detailed replacement programme and schedule with relevant government departments, the overseas manufacturer and European rope expert. After finalising these arrangements, we will announce the details a few months prior to the commencement of rope replacement. We stress that the current track rope has been confirmed to be operating safely and to comply with the strict requirements laid down by the government authorities. Dr Kwan said: Ngong Ping 360 is entering its 10th anniversary this year, and has to date welcomed more than 14.5 million visitors. Gaining international recognition again and again in recent years, it is an incredible accomplishment to be selected as one of the Cable cars: 10 amazing rides around the world by The Daily Telegraph UK and recognised as one of the 10 of the world s most amazing cable car experiences by CNN.com USA. To ensure that the track rope of the Ngong Ping Cable Car is operating in optimal conditions, we are planning a rope replacement project and looking forward to continuing to provide a comfortable cable car journey for local and global guests after the completion of the project. 4

5 Lantau Development Dr Kwan believes that the various development projects on Lantau will provide opportunities for Ngong Ping 360. The first-term work report Space for All submitted by the Lantau Development Advisory Committee proposes to strike a balance between the needs of economic development and conservation in future planning to preserve Lantau s local characteristics while developing the economy and attracting tourists. We think that it is appropriate to reserve South Lantau, where rich natural resources are found, for conservation, recreation and green tourism purposes, as the report suggests. What tourists need today, Dr Kwan said, is a seamless one-stop travel experience or self-guided green tourism to better understand local customs and cultural characteristics. The transport network connecting the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the artificial islands of the airport and other attractions on Lantau are of great importance to facilitating such an experience, she added. We think the Hong Kong government will have to enhance the connections between locations, as well as the current transport network and ancillary facilities. Doing so will not only attract more tourists to Lantau, but also bring convenience and job opportunities to local residents. In addition, the feasibility study on the extension of cable car from Ngong Ping to Tai O has been implemented and it is anticipated to be completed in the third quarter this year. We shall provide information to the Government, upon request, during the period of their feasibility study. Ngong Ping 360 will continue to coordinate with the Lantau Development Alliance and other attractions in the Lantau community, fulfilling our role as the gateway to Lantau Island West. About Ngong Ping 360 As an important tourist attraction located on Lantau Island in Hong Kong, Ngong Ping 360 offers an exciting opportunity for guests to experience a unique natural and cultural experience. The Ngong Ping Cable Car stretches 5.7 km from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping. Guests can visit the Chinese architecturally designed Ngong Ping Village, where they can enjoy a range of dining, shopping and entertainment options and culturally themed attractions, including Stage 360, Motion 360 and Walking with Buddha. The Ngong Ping Cable Car is a rare example of a bi-cable gondola circulating lift system, and is also the longest aerial cable car of its kind in Asia. It offers a visually spectacular 25-minute journey with panoramic views of the flora and fauna of North Lantau Country Park, Tung Chung Bay and the Hong Kong International Airport. Ngong Ping 360 received the CILT Award 2013 Enterprise Award presented by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong (CILTHK) in May It was also 5

6 selected as one of the Cable cars: 10 amazing rides around the world in June 2014 by The Daily Telegraph in the UK and named as amongst 10 of the world s most amazing cable car experiences by CNN.com in the USA in February Media Enquiries Vicky Lau Head of Corporate Affairs Tel: (852) ca@np360.com.hk Sharon Law Corporate Affairs Manager Tel: (852) ca@np360.com.hk Table 1: Timetable for planned scheduled maintenance in first half of 2016* Date 1 to 4 February (completed) 4 days 14 to 20 March 7 days 16 to 21 May 6 days 11 to 15 July 5 days Number of maintenance days *Subject to change, depending on project content or changes in procedures. The schedule details given in the press release published prior to each project shall prevail. Photos: 1. Dr Stella Kwan takes photo with Mr Andy Lau and Ms Vivian Lee. 6

7 2. Dr Stella Kwan, Managing Director of Ngong Ping 360 shares the business overview of Ngong Ping 360 in

8 3. Mr Andy Lau, Head of Commerce introduces the brand new guided tour. 4. Ms Vivian Lee, Head of Marketing introduces special promotions in

9 5. Dr Stella Kwan and Ms Alvina Wong, Executive Director of Pegasus Entertainment Holdings Limited presents a cheque of HK$88,000 to Ms Lilian Law, JP, Executive Director of The Boys and Girls Clubs Association, on behalf of Ngong Ping 360 and Pegasus Motion Pictures Limited. 9