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HONG KONG (ANTARA/PRNewswire) — The “100% Doraemon and Friends” exhibition opened today at the K11 Art and Cultural District in Tsim Sha Tsui to a record crowd. The event, themed around the beloved 1969 cartoon character Doraemon, highlights Hong Kong’s emerging status as a cultural hub.
The exhibition was held at the famous Avenue of Stars, attracting a large number of tourists to the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. The event kicked off with a “blue” carpet on the Avenue of Stars, followed by large-scale Doraemon sculptures placed indoors and outdoors. According to a K11 spokesperson, the foot traffic increased significantly compared to normal days.
The focal point of the exhibition is a 12-meter-tall inflatable Doraemon, claimed to be the tallest in the world. The scale of the attraction underscores Hong Kong’s commitment to hosting large-scale cultural events.
The event is part of Hong Kong’s broader strategy to capitalize on the “mega-event economy.” Since 2022, Hong Kong has been actively developing strategies to establish itself as a large-scale cultural gathering center. Government officials have stressed that such events are crucial to promoting tourism and revitalizing the local economy. High-profile events such as Art Basel Hong Kong are a testament to Hong Kong’s growing influence in the field of cultural intellectual property.
According to officials, these mega events strategically leverage popular culture, aiming not only to attract tourists but also to stimulate local consumption, benefiting a wide range of industries, including retail and hospitality. Reports show that a visitor to the exhibition plans to spend a significant amount of money during the trip, reflecting the broader economic benefits associated with such cultural attractions.
Commenting on the event, Adrian Cheng, founder of K11 and a keen advocate of cultural exchange, said: “This exhibition fully demonstrates the huge economic impact that cultural intellectual property has brought to Hong Kong. It vividly demonstrates how the integration of culture and commerce can inject vitality into Hong Kong’s economy.”
Janet, a visitor from the Philippines, said: “When I first heard about this exhibition, I knew I had to come to Hong Kong. It is always wonderful to see your favourite childhood characters in real life. We rarely get to do this at home, so I was prepared to spend HK$15,000 on merchandise and other Doraemon experiences related to the exhibition.”
At the promenade next to the K11 MUSEA exhibition, merchandise was sold out, while restaurants were attracting locals and tourists with Doraemon-themed set menus. Another restaurant operator, LUDBUDS F&B Group, which operates several restaurants in the Tsim Sha Tsui area, also offers a similar service.
“The exhibition has clearly brought more tourists and families to Tsim Sha Tsui, and also provided an opportunity to attract customers for our ‘Doraemon’ packages,” said Zhou Wenhua, chief operating officer of LUBUDS F&B Group Ltd. Zhou Wenhua expects revenue to increase by 30% to 40% during the exhibition.
The activities also boosted hotel accommodation. Xu Jianwei, general secretary of the Hong Kong Hotel Owners Association, said: “The Doraemon exhibition will be held from July to August, concurrently with major exhibitions such as the Hong Kong Book Fair and the Hong Kong Comic and Game Expo. In addition, Hong Kong will also host a La Liga football exhibition match. This series of activities is expected to attract overnight travelers in the region and drive up hotel occupancy rates. The occupancy rate of hotels in prime locations is expected to reach 80-90%, and the occupancy rate of hotels with special themes may be even higher.”
As Hong Kong continues to plan and host innovative, large-scale cultural events, it solidifies its reputation as a premier destination for global cultural exchange. The Doraemon exhibition is more than just an attraction; it embodies the city’s strategic economic and cultural vision.
K11 founder Adrian Cheng said: “The 100% Doraemon and Friends exhibition is not only a grand event for Hong Kong and the region, but also a model of cultural IP exchange. The exhibition successfully brought Japan’s iconic cultural IP to Hong Kong, and allowed other anime characters and Hong Kong movie stars to appear on the Avenue of Stars. This exhibition reflects Hong Kong’s status as a cultural exchange center between the East and the West, and will continue to promote Hong Kong’s tourism, catering and retail industries, bringing popularity and economic prosperity to Hong Kong.”
Source: K11
Reporter: PR Wire
Editor: PR Wire
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
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