28-08-22, 08:15
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#11
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Re: Hong Kongs' POSH Peak Tram Reopens
Hong Kongs' Peak Tram Reopens After 14 Months
Hong Kong's Peak Tram, one of the city's most popular tourist attractions, has reopened with a new look after a year-long closure.
BBC News 28 Aug 2022
The funicular, the oldest in Asia, dates back to 1888 and previously drew over six million visitors annually before Covid-19 struck.
The service welcomed back passengers on Saturday - even as tight coronavirus rules remain in place in the city.
It has undergone a $799m HKD (£87m) facelift since closing in June 2021.
Tourist numbers in Hong Kong are a fraction of their pre-Covid levels - in the past year, 134,000 people visited the city compared to 65 million in 2018.
The new tramcars are a far cry from this one carrying visitors to Victoria Peak in 1960, when Hong Kong was a British colony
The price of a return adult ticket is now nearly 70% higher than before the tram's makeover and costs HK$88 (£9.50).
"I hope all visitors will feel it's worth the price," said May Tsang, general manager of tram operator the Peak Complex.
"We have to consider the increase in our operating costs and the long-term sustainability of our business."
Around 100 people queued for several hours before the reopening on Saturday to see the panoramic views of the city from Victoria Peak.
Chau, who brought his two sons along for a family outing, said he was generally satisfied with the revamp.
"It's a bit pricey, but so is everything nowadays," he told the AFP news agency.
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