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An
elderly woman poses with Minnie Mouse at Hong Kong
Disneyland September 12, 2005.（Reuters) |
Disney officially opened its newest theme park in
Hong Kong, its first step into the lucrative China market.
Some 2,500 dignitaries and guests were on hand, including Chinese Vice
President Zeng Qinghong, Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang, Walt Disney
Company CEO Michael Eisner and company president Robert Iger.
The ceremony opening the US$3.5-billion park kicked off with a
traditional Chinese lion dance in the forecourt of Sleeping Beauty Castle.
The Hong Kong government, which chipped in 1.8 billion Hong Kong
dollars of the construction cost and owns a half-share of equity in the
project, is hoping the park will spur local tourism and bring in more than
100 billion dollars over the next 40 years.
The attraction and its two resort hotels are surrounded by mountains on
lush Lantau Island, just 30 minutes away by subway from bustling central
Hong Kong. It looks much like the first Disneyland in California, with a
Space Mountain thrill ride, a classic Cinderella Carousel and a pink
Sleeping Beauty Castle -- which Disney predicts will be one of the most
photographed buildings in Asia.
Hong Kong's government says the attraction will help turn this global
financial capital into Asia's best family holiday spot.
Disney hopes the park -- the 11th in its global empire -- will be a
magnet for increasingly wealthy Chinese tourists, who have a reputation
for being big-spenders.
"This is a first big step," Walt Disney Co. President Robert Iger said
about the park's role in expanding the company's reach into China, where
generations have grown up with little or no familiarity with Mickey Mouse.
Iger said the park would create a media buzz and word-of-mouth excitement that would ignite
interest in Disney films, TV shows and other products. He said that
state-owned China Central Television was doing a special about the park.
"It's going to be seen by, I'm told, as many as a billion people, which
is tremendous," Iger told The Associated Press.
Michael Eisner, Disney's chief executive officer, said China and
Disneyland will be a perfect match because they both value families.
"You go to the park and you see mothers, daughters and kids and grandparents. The family unit in China is unbelievably
strong. It's not just Hong Kong, it's the Chinese mainland," Eisner
said.
(China Daily) | 
Updated: 2005-09-12 15:42
