Ocean Park's six-year master redevelopment plan (MRP), which concluded last year with the opening of Polar Adventure, has created a "new Ocean Park" experience that is attracting more local and overseas visitors to the Hong Kong resort than ever before.

In particular, the number of visitors from various Southeast Asian markets, including South Korea, the Philippines, India, Taiwan, Indonesia and Malaysia, has risen by 60 per cent over the past five years.

On the May 30, with a full month to go before its current fiscal year ends on June 30, Ocean Park broke its annual attendance record for the ninth time in a decade by surpassing the 7.1 million mark set last fiscal year.

Peter Lam Kin-ngok, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, expressed delight that Ocean Park had helped mark yet another brilliant chapter for Hong Kong's tourism industry.

He not only lauded the Park for winning the Applause Award – the most prestigious accolade in the international theme park industry – but also congratulated it on securing a third five-year accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, building on the park's status as the first and only facility outside the Americas to be an association member.

Zeman said: "We are honoured that Ocean Park has won the appreciation and recognition of the Hong Kong public and the theme park industry. The completion of the MRP in July 2012 has brought the number of attractions at the park to 85.

"We have also added 10 animal encounter programmes and behind-the-scenes tours so that guests can better understand the importance of conservation through close encounters with our animal ambassadors, further fulfilling our mission to connect people with nature."