Hong Kong festival to feature animal-shaped hot-air balloons, Cantopop concerts
AIA International Hot Air Balloon Fest event in September expected to draw 80,000, with stars Joey Yung and Leo Ku to perform, organiser says
Hot-air balloons in the shapes of animals such as a panda, dinosaur and rabbit will fly against the Hong Kong skyline as part of a coming four-day megafestival in September, along with nightly concerts starring Cantopop singers such as Joey Yung Cho-yee and Leo Ku Kui-kei.
The organiser said on Monday that it expected the AIA International Hot Air Balloon Fest Hong Kong to draw 80,000 international visitors and residents alike between September 4 and 7, which could boost tourism and local spending in the city.
“We hope that tourists from the mainland and overseas would, because of the hot-air balloons, reconsider Hong Kong as a travel and leisure destination in Asia,” said Joey Chan Pui-kwan, chief operating officer of Grand Events Asia.
“Local families are also our target audience. We hope that the hot-air balloon festival will encourage more Hongkongers to spend in the city and to enjoy a brand new experience.”
The HK$30 million (US$3.8 million) festival at the Central Harbourfront Event Space will have six large hot-air balloons measuring up to 20 metres (66 feet) tall, complemented by more than 10 smaller ones from countries such as Canada, Germany and Japan.
Stalls for games, food and shopping will also be featured as part of the festival.
Chan highlighted that her team had taken reference from hot-air balloon festivals around the region and was confident that the variety of balloons would allow for a fresh display, as she hoped for the event to be hosted annually in the city.