Cable Car Operator Looks To Lure HK Residents

The operator of the Ngong Ping 360 cable car said on Tuesday that it has seen a visitor surge thanks to the new rail and road links to the mainland, but residents of Hong Kong seem to be giving the attraction a miss.

While around 30 percent of the visitors last year came from across the border, only 15 percent were local residents. So the operator is now on a mission to get Hong Kong residents to visit the site in Tung Chung.

"We are a home-grown attraction in Hong Kong," said acting managing director Andy Lau.

He said apart from offering some price discounts, the company will also have packages which will change how local visitors perceive their experience at the attraction.

Starting from next month, locals will be able to book online express tickets for cable car rides at weekends and on public holidays. The operator also promises to limit the waiting time at the venue for these ticket holders to around 20 minutes.

Free-ride deals will also be offered in March and June, solely for Hong Kong residents.

The operator said its visitor numbers have now risen to nearly 5,400 people a day, the highest in 10 years.