Disney says has no plans for Malaysian park

[brisem]

UPDATE 3-Disney says has no plans for Malaysian park
Tue May 30, 2006 2:02 PM ET
LOS ANGELES, May 30 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co. (DIS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday said it has no plans to build a theme park in Malaysia -- even though government officials in that country said they had been in talks to develop one.

"We are constantly exploring opportunities around the world as we look to grow our parks and resorts business. At this time, however, there are no existing discussions in Malaysia and we currently have no plans for a Disney-branded resort development in that country," said Lisa Haines, a spokeswoman for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

Malaysian government officials said they are in talks to set up a Disney theme park in southern Johor state, as it battles neighbor Singapore to become a major tourist hub.

Government officials have held talks with executives from Oriental Land Co. Ltd. (4661.T: Quote, Profile, Research), the Japanese company that operates Tokyo Disneyland, to run a similar park in Malaysia, The Edge financial weekly reported over the weekend, citing sources.

But Disney said it has held no such talks.

"Oriental Land Company, which owns and operates Tokyo Disney Resort as our licensee, is a valued partner; however, they have no role in evaluating or negotiating other opportunities for Disney outside of Japan," Haines said.

Malaysian Economic Planning Minister Effendi Norwawi told reporters on Tuesday the country was exploring all options to make the southern corridor an attractive region.

"So it will include theme parks and other attractions, so we are hoping to get Disney; but we are discussing with several other parties to see which is the most realizable option," he said.

"Yes, we have been in discussions with Tokyo and also with Disney in the U.S," he added, without giving further details.

Japan's Oriental Land said it had done some research in Johor on a possible leisure business but said the project was not related to Disney.

"We are only a Disney licensee. We have no rights to set up a Disney park nor provide advice on its operations," said an Oriental Land spokesman.
The Japanese company late last year did research to see if a leisure business was possible on request from the Malaysian government, he said. No decision has been made following the research, he added.

The Japanese company has conducted such research in several countries in the past, he said.

Malaysia is eager to develop Johor state, separated by a thin strip of water from Singapore -- which is itself chasing the tourist dollar by developing a casino industry.

The theme park could occupy 2,000 acres in Nusajaya, part of a 23,000 acre township being developed by state-controlled UEM World Bhd (UEMW.KL: Quote, Profile, Research), The Edge said.

Tokyo Disneyland is one of Asia's top tourist sites and, with the adjacent DisneySea, draws 25 million visitors a year.

© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.

 

[wedway71]

Even though Asia is becoming a very powerful financial sector of the world with alot of big business looking at doing biz there Malayasia has many problems that would and should keep Disney away.One is right now the country has a large Muslim population.I dont mean that Muslims are bad people, but during our countrys war on terrror this would open up a whole new can of worms.I was in the Air Force and when I was in traveled all over the world and there has been and is now extremist factions in that country and it would be too hard for Disney to keep its guests and property safe during the turmoil of the modern times.

 

[ctwhalerman]

Malaysia actually is a very good choice for a park. The country is really only nominally Islamic, I think maybe 40-50% Islamic, and Muslims in that region really do not dislike the U.S. because they are of a completely different race, culture, and history, compared to Middle Eastern Muslims (Indonesia is even viewed as an ally). It's like saying all Catholics hate Britain because of Northern Ireland and Britain's harsh history toward the Catholic Irish, when Catholics in Latin America (and everywhere else) really couldn't care less.

Plus, by putting a park in southern Malaysia, Disney can tap into the fast-growing economy of the region, and puts the park on the doorsteps of the extrememly wealthy city-state of Singapore, while also tapping into the Australian market, as I think Singapore may only be a few hours flight away from both Perth and Darwin. Australia only has a population that is less than the population of metropolitan New York, so Disney can put a park close enough to tap into that market while also being right in the middle of a population base of maybe 100 million people.

 

[SirNim]

Mr. SirNimBusinessMan sez: It might make financial sense (and cents) to open up a Disneyland in Malaysia.

Mr. SirNimDisneyFan sez: The Disney brand is being diluted with each new resort addition beyond the Big-4 of DL, WDW, DLP and TDL.

 

[DisneyRoxMySox]

I agree with SirNim. I feel that Disney, when it comes to themeparks is begining to spread to thin. We need to deal with HKDL and DLP for that matter, before we even begin to specualte.