Hong Kong Disneyland has announced an Iron Man-themed attraction in addition to its new hotel. The move is part of the park’s drive to attract more guests from the lucrative Asian market.

The park is targeting the ASEAN countries, plus China, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea specifically – a market that has a combined population of more than two billion. Many of these nations have a booming new middle class and with increased disposable income, cheaper and more convenient flights, the desire to travel in the region has risen dramatically.

Hong Kong Disneyland hopes to tap into this audience with the Iron Man Experience, set to open in 2016. The HK$4.3bn (US$550m, £352m, €448m) luxury hotel, announced in February this year, will be the largest on-site, and has been inspired by exotic destinations.

Thai tourists were singled out as a group of particular interest. “Tourism in Asia is growing faster than in other regions in the world, so we are looking at that growth," the park’s managing director, Andrew Kam, told Bangkok-based newspaper The Nation. "Despite political unrest or any happening in Thailand, we still maintain this market as our long-term guests." He said Thai celebrities would be used to promote the park.

In 2013, guest count at the park was up to 7.4 million, with Hong Kong Disneyland’s figures for the fiscal year ending September 2013 showing profit of HK$242m (US$31m, £20m, €25m), double that of the previous year.

In 2013, the park saw a one per cent increase in visitors from mainland China and a 27 per cent increase in visitors from South Korea. More than 25 million people have visited Hong Kong Disneyland since it opened in 2005.