First off, I would just like to mention the sentence where you say “the middle- and upper-class population of India is only about 4% of its total population. However, that equates to over 267 million people…”. This is false statement. There may be 267 million people in the middle and upper class, but if that was 4% of the total population, India’s total population would be over 6 and a half billion.
I do understand that Australia does have some issues (really its the population, or the lack of one) but you seem to forget or look over Indonesia’s numerous issues. You do say Singapore a lot but I do hope you mean Indonesia, or much of your argument would not make any sense. Indonesia has a large population (250+ million) while Singapore barely has 5 million, rendering your population problem argument invalid. So while I comment on the problems about the location of an Indonesia resort, I am talking about Indonesia, not Singapore.
Issue 1: Indonesia is spread out among many islands, which is common knowledge. Of the 922 inhabited islands, there are probably a good amount that have substantial populations. So my question is, are you planning on selecting the most populous metropolitan area and plopping it there? It is very hard to find a location that is easily accessible to all 250+ million people who live in Indonesia. You could say that they are connected to a series of boats or planes, but that may seem like a long and unnecessary process that eliminates a good portion of the very important day visitors. This is more of a convenience issue but it is an issue nonetheless.
Issue 2: When you leave a Disney resort, it is nice to be in a nice city. Lets look at Tokyo for example. When you leave the Tokyo Disney Resort, you are in a bustling and prosperous city that is safe, clean, and well run. Indonesia is almost the exact opposite. Imagine a “city” of loose shacks and poverty. A place where monkeys rule the streets and people can be seen diving through heavy traffic. One of your arguments was that people from around the world would still visit an Indonesia theme park. I don’t many people that would willingly leave a developed nation to come to Indonesia, even if they spend most or all of their time in the resort. It would be a quite a shock for someone coming from a wealthier nation.
Issue 3:Singapore’s culture is highly conservative. Visitors will need to adjust to local customs where the society is mainly Muslim. Women are under strict laws that limit what women can wear or what they can do. That doesn't seem like a very enjoyable vacation to me. Also, bribery and corruption are rife, so it is not uncommon to be stopped by police at random.
Issue 4: In Indonesia’s metropolitan areas, it is not uncommon to see overcrowding and traffic congestion. This may be an issue carried into a disney park, as there is one resort for a nation of 250 million people. I imagine New Year’s level crowds all the time, or the lines for Tokyo’s TSMM for all the rides. This may be an extreme mindset, but still, it is a possibility. Cities in Indonesia are dense and it is hard to get around easily. Space is limited near cities and getting there is a nightmare. People use roads daily and millions of people use them everyday. Traffic jams are normal and routine and pollution fills the air. Buses are stuffed to the brim and there aren’t subways to transport port commuters.
Issue 5: The weather in Indonesia is not ideal. With humid levels ranging from 70 to 90 percent, it can get quite unpleasant. It may take a while to get used to, which many vacationers don’t have. Temperatures are in the 80’s and 90’s most of the year and do not provide a relaxing vacation. Also, guests are either in a miserable rainy season from November to March or an unbearable dry season from April to October.
I still firmly stand by my opinion that Australia is an ideal location for a Disney resort and Indonesia is far from ideal. I don’t mean to sound belligerent but I do have a strong opinion on the matter. Wdwfan4ever, I still can't wait to hear your ideas and what you plan to do to set your theme parks apart!
. Your points make a lot of sense. Thanks for the rebuttal.