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| Queensland knowhow is behind Hong Kong’s newest tourist attraction, a spectacular cableway ride to the world’s largest, seated, outdoor, bronze Buddha statue. Photo courtesy Skyrail |
The Queensland company behind the world-acclaimed Skyrail Rainforest Cableway in Cairns will operate Hong Kong’s newest tourist attraction, the Ngong Ping 360 ‘Journey of Enlightenment’.
When Queenslander Ken Chapman looks at the gleaming new 5.7 kilometre cableway snaking its way up Lantau Island in Hong Kong, it is not just the imposing structure that excites him but its potential to give tourists a transforming experience.
“It’s a very impressive piece of engineering infrastructure but the most exciting aspect of this project is the total tourism experience we will give visitors,” he said.
Originally the government-owned MTR Corporation in Hong Kong planned to build only a cableway to ferry people up to the Tian Tan Big Buddha, the world’s largest, seated, outdoor, bronze Buddha statue. But Ken Chapman convinced them to create a total tourist experience.
When it opens in mid-2006, there will be a breathtaking 25-minute gondola ride up the mountain, as well as a cultural themed village featuring the Walking With Buddha attraction, the Monkey’s Tale Theatre and the Ngong Ping Tea House.
“Tourists today want to be able to do more than take a quick photo and move on. They want an experience that transforms them,” Ken said.
He should know. In just 10 years, his family company has developed Skyrail Rainforest Cableway,
north of Cairns, into one of the world’s most awarded eco-tourist attractions. Billed as the ‘World’s Most Beautiful Rainforest Experience’ its 7.5 kilometre cableway over pristine rainforest allows visitors to explore the wonders of an ancient tropical rainforest and learn about one of the most botanically fascinating and diverse areas on earth.
Twice voted Australia’s best major tourist attraction, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is in the Queensland Tourism Awards Hall of Fame as ‘Best Major Tourist Attraction’.
“We don’t believe in making carbon-copy attractions. Just as Skyrail is endemic and unique to Far North Queensland, Ngong Ping 360 is endemic and unique to Hong Kong,” Ken said.
The A$157 million Ngong Ping 360 Project is being developed and financed by the MTR Corporation which has appointed Skyrail-ITM as operating managers. Skyrail-ITM will be responsible for all areas of operations.
Skyrail-ITM is also involved in other projects outside Queensland. It operates the cableway at Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney and consults on the planned cableway linking the Liberty Bell District in Philadelphia with New Jersey across the Delaware River.
www.skyrail.com.au
www.np360.com.hk
Last reviewed 15 March 2006