The Magic of Experience: How Hong Kong Can Lead the Future of Global Tourism

By Michael Moriarty, Managing Director, Hong Kong Disneyland, and appointed member of the Hong Kong Tourism Strategy Committee

HKDL marked its strongest performance since its opening in fiscal year 2024 and entered its 20th anniversary milestone this year. The resort will continue to build on this momentum to help reinforce Hong Kong’s reputation as a world-class tourism city.

Hong Kong stands at a pivotal moment in its tourism journey.

The city has made commendable efforts in reigniting interest—through government subsidies, mega-events, and promotional campaigns. Yet, the question remains: how do we ensure this rebound becomes a renaissance?

The answer lies not in discounts, but in delivering lifelong memories.

As a city known for its vibrancy, diversity and global connectivity, Hong Kong must now lean into what truly sets it apart: its ability to deliver emotionally resonant, culturally rich, and unforgettable experiences. In today’s travel landscape, experiences are the new currency. And the most valuable ones are those that spark joy, create memories, and inspire multiple return visits.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, HKDL presents brand-new party entertainment experiences, including HKDL’ grandest ever nighttime spectacular, largest parade and a castle stage show.

At Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL), we’ve seen this firsthand. Fiscal year 2024 marked our strongest performance since opening—not because we lowered prices, but because we elevated the experience. We listened to our guests, adapted to their evolving preferences, and delivered immersive, personalized offerings that connected deeply. From the viral success of the Jungle River Cruise skippers to the launch of the world’s first and largest World of Frozen, our strategy has been clear: create experiences that endure beyond the moment.

This year, as we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we’re reminded of how deeply embedded HKDL is in the fabric of Hong Kong’s tourism and community life. We’ve grown alongside the city, not just as an attraction, but as a place where aspirations are realized—for guests and cast members alike. Our commitment to cultural relevance and civic engagement has built a foundation of trust and goodwill that no subsidy can replicate.

HKDL is deeply embedded in the fabric of Hong Kong community and committed to civic engagement. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the resort will donate over HK$5 million to support sick children and youth development.

During periods of economic uncertainty, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to continuously invest in our people and our products. In recent years, we’ve transformed Hong Kong Disneyland with the reimagined Castle of Magical Dreams, daytime castle show “Follow Your Dreams,” Momentous Nighttime Spectacular and World of Frozen — each milestone reinforcing our efforts to draw repeat visitation and appeal to broader audiences around the world.

But the true strength of our industry lies in the people who bring these experiences to life every day.

HKDL remains steadfast in its commitment to creating innovative experiences, connecting the dots across sectors to ignite the future of Hong Kong tourism.

Investing in the training and well-being of employees is not just good business—it’s essential to our identity as a top destination. At HKDL, we consider our cast members ambassadors of the Disney brand and a reflection of our local culture. When we empower our teams and treat them with respect, they can elevate the guest experience and help reinforce Hong Kong’s reputation as a welcoming, world-class city.

The lesson is simple: exceptional experiences drive both revenue and resilience.

Hong Kong’s Tourism Blueprint 2.0 rightly emphasizes mega-events and destination branding. To truly differentiate ourselves from neighboring cities, we must pair these events with immersive products that reflect Hong Kong’s unique character. That means bold collaborations, seamless storytelling, and a readiness to innovate together.

HKDL has seen powerful results by joining hands with Hong Kong International Airport and the MTR to create buzz, and with travel agents and airlines to bundle park tickets with concert tickets and other experiences that extend stays. These joint efforts don’t just drive visitation—they deepen engagement and build affinity to Hong Kong. Our themed cable cars with Ngong Ping 360, our cultural collaborations with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and Hong Kong Ballet, and city-wide activations during the 20th anniversary celebration are all proof that when we connect the dots across sectors, we create something truly memorable.

The global market is shifting in our favor. Travelers from mainland China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and beyond are seeking authenticity over bargains. They want to feel something authentic. Be a part of something meaningful. And Hong Kong is perfectly positioned to deliver that—if we lead with innovative thinking and a united approach.

Some may question whether Hong Kong can reclaim its former standing. I believe we can do more than that. We can redefine it.

By embedding local culture into global brands, embracing innovation, and fostering cross-sector collaboration, Hong Kong can become the model for sustainable tourism for decades to come. This is not just about economic recovery—it’s about renewing emotional connections. It’s about giving people a reason to believe again, to travel again, and to rediscover Hong Kong in ways that leave a lasting impression.

As Walt Disney once said, Whatever we accomplish belongs to our entire group.” “For Hong Kong, that group includes government, industry, community, and our global visitors. We collectively have the power to turn this moment into a movement.

Let’s bring this vision to life—and ignite the future of Hong Kong tourism together.

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — If it's a new year, it must be serious tennis time Down Under.

Just over six weeks since the ATP and WTA held their respective 2025 Finals, players on the men's and women's tours are arriving in Australia and New Zealand for a crammed two-week schedule of tournaments ahead of the Australian Open, the year's first Grand Slam event starting Jan. 18 in Melbourne.

Leading the way is the United Cup, a mixed teams event which will be played in Perth and Sydney beginning Friday and finishing Jan. 11. The tournament will feature four of the world’s top 10 men and women including Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, Iga Świątek, Alexander Zverev, Jasmine Paolini and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Also during the first full week of 2026, the Brisbane International will be headlined by defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, fresh off the Battle of the Sexes exhibition against Nick Kyrgios in Dubai. Also on from Jan. 4-10 is the Canberra International, a joint ATP Challenger and WTA 125 tournament in Australia's capital city.

But missing from the pre-Australian Open tournaments are the two biggest names in men's tennis: No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and second-ranked Jannik Sinner.

Alcaraz and Sinner — who have won nine of the last 10 Grand Slam singles titles, with Sinner winning the 2025 Australian Open — have decided to play an exhibition at Incheon, South Korea on Jan. 10. After the exhibition, it's expected they'll fly to Australia to begin their preparations at Melbourne Park.

Alcaraz will be playing his first major in seven years without coach Juan Carlos Ferrero — the Spanish player recently announced their split. Alcaraz has not announced a replacement.

Other players at the United Cup, which begins Friday with Spain playing Argentina and Greece taking on Japan in Perth, include Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Stan Wawrinka, who has said 2026 will be his last year on tour.

The tournament format features men's and women's singles followed by a mixed doubles match.

The 40-year-old, three-time major winner Wawrinka says he hopes to improve on his current ranking of 157 and move back into the top 100 before he retires. His highest ranking was No. 3, achieved when he won the Australian Open in 2014.

“I’m happy with the decision (to retire) and feeling at peace with that," Wawrinka said when he arrived earlier this week in Perth.

Tsitsipas said in Perth on Thursday that he considered retirement last year due to back issues, but that he has arrived in Australia pain-free. He also has his father Apostolos coaching him again after a brief stint with Goran Ivanisevic last year.

“My biggest concern has been, can I actually finish a match?,” Tsitsipas, now ranked 36th, told Australian Associated Press. "That was what was going through my mind the last six to eight months.

“There were phases during the year where I was asking myself, ‘Why am I doing this, and why am I putting myself through so much pain?’ I’m just hoping 2026 doesn’t bring any of that.”

Joining Sabalenka at the 500-level Brisbane International will be two-time major finalist Amanda Anisimova, WTA Finals champion Elena Rybakina, reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva.

The 18-year-old Andreeva is tipped to be the next big thing in women’s tennis and she could renew her rivalry with Sabalenka in Brisbane. Sabalenka leads 4-2 in the head-to-head matches but world No. 9 Andreeva had a three-set win in the Indian Wells final in 2025.

The Russian also made it to the quarterfinals at last year’s French Open and Wimbledon along with the semis at Roland Garros in 2024 when at 17 she became the youngest to reach the final four in a major since Martina Hingis at the 1997 U.S. Open.

Andreeva lost to Sabalenka in the semifinals in Brisbane in 2025 and again in the fourth round at the Australian Open before her victory at Indian Wells where she was the youngest winner since Serena Williams.

“That gave me a lot of confidence. Winning Indian Wells is a milestone of my career so far,” she said.

In the second week of the warm-up events, the joint ATP- WTA Adelaide International featuring 24-time Grand Slam singles champion Novak Djokovic will run from Jan. 12-17 as well as a WTA 250 tournament at Hobart, Australia.

Auckland, New Zealand will host a WTA tournament from Jan. 5-11 before the ATP plays at the same venue from Jan. 12-17. And in the only warm-up tournament being played outside Australia or New Zealand, Hong Kong will host an ATP event from Jan. 5-11.

The ATP events will come under a new rule for 2026 to address extreme heat during men’s matches that will allow for 10-minute breaks during best-of-three-sets singles matches and is similar to what was put in place on the WTA more than 30 years ago.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Aryna Sabalenka acknowledges the crowd after losing against Nick Kyrgios in their Battle of the Sexes match, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday Dec. 28, 2025. (Christopher Pike/Pool Photo via AP)