CA04/2014 Ngong Ping 360 actively participates in and promotes the development of Lantau Island Launches brand new programmes and services to enhance guests’ sensory experience (Hong Kong, 19 February 2014) Ngong Ping 360, one of Hong Kong's must-see attractions on Lantau, is a popular attraction for both tourists and local residents. Ngong Ping 360’s team is not only dedicated to maintaining the reliability of cable car services, but also to upholding the mission of providing visitors with unique travel experiences through new programmes and services, enabling them to embark on an extraordinary sensory journey. Ngong Ping 360 experienced satisfactory visitation in 2013 with over 1.65 million guests: 46% came from Western countries (19%) and Asia (27%), 35% came from China and Macau, and 19% were Hong Kong residents. According to 2013 figures, Italy, China and Macau, and France recorded the highest growth with 91%, 56% and 38% respectively. On the whole, in 2013 an average of 5,100 guests visited Ngong Ping 360 per day, breaking the previous record. Last month, the Hong Kong Government issued the “2014 Policy Address”, which stressed speeding up the development of Lantau Island and announced the establishment of the “Lantau Development Advisory Committee” to study the economic and community development strategies of Lantau Island. Accordingly, in 2014 Ngong Ping 360 will launch a wide range of new programmes and services to position itself as the gateway to Lantau Island West and a leading tourist destination, and to promote the economic and development of Lantau Island. Forming a strategic alliance with Lantau cultural attractions to provide one-stop travel fun Ngong Ping 360 is a founding member of the Hong Kong Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (HKAAPA) and the Lantau Development Alliance (LaDA), and also chairs the LaDA’s Tourism Committee. As an active member of Lantau, Ngong Ping 360 works through 360 Holiday, its wholly owned licenced tour operator, to actively integrate some of Lantau Island’s cultural attractions, including New Lantao Bus, Tai O Boat Excursion, YHA Ngong Ping SG Davis Youth Hostel, Tian Tan Buddha, Po Lin Monastery, Tai O Heritage Hotel and Silvermine Beach Resort. 360 Holiday offers “Sky-Land-Sea” package and a range of special tourism packages, so that guests can enjoy one-stop travel fun by seamlessly travelling to Lantau’s various cultural attractions. 1/4 Launching of new sensory tourism programmes to become Hong Kong’s tourist destination Ngong Ping 360 is located amidst the natural blue and green blend of Lantau Island, and it has worked to continually maintain the natural environment and features of the surrounding countryside, providing great potential for the development of sensory tourism. Ngong Ping 360 therefore plans to invest over HK$30 million towards renovating its facilities and enhancing its service system, as well as introducing the following new sensory tourism programmes. New programmes in the first quarter of 2014 Comprehensive i-Services Brand new Audio Guided Tour: To enhance the 25-minute cable car ride experience, Ngong Ping 360 will offer guests a new audio guided tour introducing the surrounding scenery of Lantau Island in three languages. Guests can convenient enjoy the audio guided service for free by downloading the audio file via WeChat or Ngong ping 360 corporate website. New Mobile Ticketing System: During Chinese New Year 2014, guests were able to purchase tickets with specific admission times through tablet-equipped Ngong Ping 360 staff members at Tung Chung MTR Station. Guests brought their printed tickets to Tung Chung Platform to board directly instead of queuing at the ticketing counter. The pilot service received satisfactory feedback and Ngong Ping 360 is studying the feasibility of full implementation in the future. In addition, Ngong Ping 360 is piloting the mobile ticketing system using mobile devices. Guests can also visit Ngong Ping 360’s corporate website to conveniently buy e-tickets using a variety of mobile devices to eliminate the need to queue up at the Ticketing Office. Return Trip Online Reservation Service: Guests who purchase cable car packages can book boarding times for their return cable car trip through 360 Information Centre upon arriving at Ngong Ping Village, avoiding the need to queue for boarding. The New Experience – Sensory Tourism: Silence Motion 360: Co-organized by Ngong Ping 360 and Dialogue Experience, Silence Motion 360 is the world’s first team building event conducted through drama elements in beautiful natural surroundings. The programme provides a diversified interactive communication training journey for corporate and MICE groups. 2/4 New programmes in the second quarter of 2014 Motion 360: A part of the revamped Monkey’s Tale Theatre will broadcast a new Lantau XD movie, which will allow the audience to appreciate Lantau Island from different angles and experience the beauty of day and night as well as sky and sea. Stage 360: Another part of the revamped Monkey’s Tale Theatre will be for Live Theatre Performance – Movie in Action@Stage 360. Professional stuntmen will provide action-packed performances based on classic Hong Kong movies to excite guests with in-your-face stage effects and energetic performances. Other Themed Activities at Ngong Ping Village: Special Effect Makeup and Movie Stunt Demonstration Workshop. Chroma Key Effect Video Shooting: Guests can also participate in indoor stunt shooting using chroma key effects. New programmes in the third quarter of 2014 Dining in Silence: Conducted in absolute silence, Dining in Silence allows participants to experience food through touch, taste and smell, enhancing non-verbal communication between people. New programmes in the fourth quarter of 2014 Aerial Wire Experience: Assisted by professionals, guests can experience leaping and flying with special stage and aerial wire – just like in the movies! Video will be recorded for guests to take home as a souvenir. Other upcoming programmes Ngong Ping 360 has submitted its request to the Town Planning Board to change the operational/administrative land use at Ngong Ping Terminal to facilitate the launch of 360 Dialogue. The Town Planning Board approved the application on 17 January 2014 and Ngong Ping 360 is working on other related application processes. Other new services and programmes 360 Holidays Accommodations Packages: To allow guests to see the lesser known features of Lantau Island, 360 Holidays has integrated different attractions in West Lantau Island, including several attractions in Tai O, by launching the “2 Day 1 Night Accommodation Package”. The package includes a Sky-Land-Sea 2-Day Pass and 1 night of accommodation, allowing guests to explore Lantau Island at their leisure. Afternoon Tea Special Tour: Our one-stop “cable car + boat excursion + guided tour” has received encouraging feedback since its launch. Led by professional tour guides, the soon-to-launch “Afternoon Tea” Special Tour will allow guests to enjoy the stunning 3/4 sunset at Tai O Fishing Village, view Chinese white dolphins, appreciate the natural beauty of the mangroves and taste the signature afternoon tea at Tai O Heritage Hotel. Further details of the programmes to be launched during the second, third and fourth quarters will be announced later in the year. Scheduled cable car maintenance Committed to providing reliable service to our guests, Ngong Ping 360 takes a predictive approach to maintenance. This year’s planned maintenance works are tentatively scheduled during 17–20 March, 24–25 June, 16–23 September and 2–3 December. Cable car service will be suspended during these periods. About Ngong Ping 360 Ngong Ping 360 is a world-class tourist attraction located on Lantau Island in Hong Kong that offers an exciting gateway to a one-of-a-kind natural and cultural experience. The Ngong Ping Cable Car stretches 5.7km from Tung Chung to the culturally themed Ngong Ping Village, where guests can enjoy a range of dining, shopping and entertaining outlets as well as easy access to other featured attractions on Lantau Island, including Tian Tan Big Buddha, Wisdom Path and Tai O Fishing Village. The Ngong Ping Cable Car is a rare example of a bi-cable gondola lift system, and it is also the biggest aerial cable car of its kind in Asia. It offers a visually spectacular 20 to 25-minute journey with panoramic views of the flora and fauna of North Lantau Country Park, Tung Chung Bay and Hong Kong International Airport. - End - 4/4 .