Panda Twins Spark New Wave of Excitement for Hong Kong Touri

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Panda Twins Spark New Wave of Excitement for Hong Kong Tourism

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on August 20, 2024

Ocean Park Hong Kong recently celebrated the rare birth of giant panda twins, marking a significant milestone for the park and the city. On August 15, 2024, one day before her 19th birthday, Ying Ying, the beloved giant panda at Ocean Park, gave birth to a female and a male cub. This event is notable as Ying Ying has now become the oldest first-time mother of giant pandas on record.

Paulo Pong, Chairman of Ocean Park Corporation, expressed his excitement, stating, "The babies' arrival adding to the new giant pandas soon to arrive in Hong Kong are thrilling news for Ocean Park and all of Hong Kong. We would like to express our gratitude for the continued support and generosity of the Central Government, whose unwavering commitment to Hong Kong has made this possible. The HKSAR Government's decision to entrust the pandas to Ocean Park also allows us to play an active role in the conservation of this precious species.”

The birth of these panda cubs is particularly special because giant pandas have a notoriously difficult time reproducing, especially as they age. Ying Ying, who had shown signs of pregnancy in late July, was confirmed to be pregnant on August 11 through ultrasound scans. She went into labor on August 14, and after more than five hours, successfully delivered the two cubs early the next morning. The female cub weighs 122 grams, while the male cub weighs 112 grams.

Image Source: South China Morning Post

Currently, the newborns are under 24-hour intensive care by Ocean Park's animal care team and experts from the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP). Due to their fragile state, particularly the female cub, who is experiencing lower body temperature and weaker cries, the public will have to wait several months before the cubs are introduced.

The arrival of the panda twins has also sparked excitement within Hong Kong’s tourism industry. The city is already anticipating the arrival of two additional young adult pandas, gifted by Beijing to commemorate the 27th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule. These pandas are expected to further boost tourism and provide new opportunities for Ocean Park to explore revenue streams. The park has already launched a new social media account to share updates on the pandas, including a video of one of the cubs being fed.

Lawmaker Michael Tien referred to the panda births as a "game changer" for Hong Kong’s tourism strategy, suggesting the city adopt the pandas as mascots and develop related merchandise. “Hong Kong lacks things that money cannot buy,” he said. “If it can be bought with money, there is plenty of that around the world. How do we stand out? It is with these pandas.”

Tourism experts like Timothy Chui, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, have encouraged Ocean Park to capitalize on the pandas' appeal by creating unique, panda-themed experiences and merchandise, potentially replacing Hong Kong's current dragon mascot with a panda.

With the birth of these twins and the arrival of more pandas, Hong Kong’s tourism sector is poised for growth, as the city embraces these new additions to its cultural and economic landscape.

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Etihad and Vietnam Airlines Announce New Codeshare and Loyalty Partnership

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on November 23, 2025

Etihad Airways and Vietnam Airlines have taken their partnership forward with the launch of a new codeshare agreement. This move builds on Etihad’s recently introduced Abu Dhabi–Hanoi service, creating smoother travel options between the UAE and Vietnam.

With this partnership, Etihad guests can now book onward journeys to major domestic destinations in Vietnam as well as popular cities across Asia, all on a single ticket. Travellers also benefit from one check-in and automatic baggage transfer, making Abu Dhabi an easy connection point to the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.

Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Etihad Airways, said: "This partnership with Vietnam Airlines delivers significant value to our guests by unlocking access to some of Asia's most dynamic and popular destinations. Our new Abu Dhabi-Hanoi service has been warmly received, and this codeshare agreement transforms it into a gateway to Vietnam's most exciting cities. Combined with our frequent flyer partnership, which enables loyalty members of both airlines to earn and redeem miles across our combined global networks, this collaboration underscores our commitment to providing our guests with greater flexibility, broader reach, and superior travel experiences."

From Vietnam Airlines’ perspective, this collaboration builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier. Nguyen Quang Trung, Director of Corporate Planning and Development, Vietnam Airlines, said: “Vietnam Airlines is pleased to advance our partnership with Etihad Airways through this new codeshare agreement, following the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024. The collaboration offers seamless access to Etihad’s network across the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, while allowing more travellers to experience Vietnam Airlines’ signature warmth and hospitality. Together with our expanded frequent-flyer partnership, this agreement enhances convenience, broadens destination choices, and strengthens tourism and economic ties between Vietnam and the UAE.”

The rollout of the codeshare will take place in phases. As it expands, passengers of Vietnam Airlines will gain access to six destinations beyond Abu Dhabi, Athens, Addis Ababa, Bahrain, Muscat, Cairo, and Istanbul, opening up a wider network across the Middle East, Europe, and Africa through Etihad’s strong connectivity.

Etihad and Vietnam Airlines already have a frequent flyer partnership in place. Launched in July 2025, it allows Etihad Guest and Lotus Miles members to earn and redeem miles across both airlines’ networks. This loyalty integration adds more value to the newly announced codeshare, giving travellers broader options and smoother travel experiences.