[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, Sans-serif]NEW DELHI, MAY 15: India could lose out to Singapore, China or Dubai in getting the next Disneyland in Asia. But, The Walt Disney Company has significant plans for India, once FDI is allowed in the retail sector. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, Sans-serif]Walt Disney, which has partnerships with international retail chains like Wal-Mart, Tesco and Carrefour, is keen to have a strong consumer products business in India. FDI in the retail sector will make this possible through organised retailing. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, Sans-serif]Even as the recent visit of Walt Disney chief executive Michael D. Eisner was seen as a step to finalise the theme park project in the country, it is learnt that India may not have a Disneyland in the next five to 10 years. Instead, the US-based media and entertainment major, with $31-billion revenues, is exploring other markets like Singapore, China and Dubai for setting up Disneyland, industry sources indicated.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, Sans-serif]For the next destination in Asia, Singapore and Dubai score high as both have good infrastructure and attract huge number of tourists. China is attractive for its population and the booming consumer market. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, Sans-serif]When contacted, Walt Disney (India) Managing Director Rajat Jain said, ‘‘There’s no immediate plan to set up a Disneyland in India. Right now in India, our focus is on television.’’ Jain, however, declined to comment on the other locations where Disneyland could come up after Hong Kong, which is the fifth in the world besides two in the US and one each in Paris and Tokyo. ‘‘We are looking forward to the Hong Kong opening in September. As this would be the closest to India, it would give Indians an exposure to Disneyland,’’ he said. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, Sans-serif]For the next destination in Asia, Singapore and Dubai score high as both have good infrastructure and attract huge number of tourists. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, Sans-serif]The company looks at the entire region (not just the country) and the expected returns from there, while setting up a Disney theme park, as the investment is high at $3-3.5 billion, sources said. In India, there’s perhaps a mismatch between the investment needed for Disneyland, infrastructure of the country and expected returns from the project, they pointed out. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, Sans-serif]On consumer products business, Jain said: ‘‘Going by our international experience, modern organised retail should give a positive impetus to the Disney consumer business in India.’’ He added that Walt Disney is excited about India considering FDI in the retail sector. FDI in the sector is likely to result in significant improvement in organised retailing in India.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, Sans-serif]Walt Disney, which has partnerships with international retail chains like Wal-Mart, Tesco and Carrefour, is keen to have a strong consumer products business in India. FDI in the retail sector will make this possible through organised retailing. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, Sans-serif]Even as the recent visit of Walt Disney chief executive Michael D. Eisner was seen as a step to finalise the theme park project in the country, it is learnt that India may not have a Disneyland in the next five to 10 years. Instead, the US-based media and entertainment major, with $31-billion revenues, is exploring other markets like Singapore, China and Dubai for setting up Disneyland, industry sources indicated.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, Sans-serif]For the next destination in Asia, Singapore and Dubai score high as both have good infrastructure and attract huge number of tourists. China is attractive for its population and the booming consumer market. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, Sans-serif]When contacted, Walt Disney (India) Managing Director Rajat Jain said, ‘‘There’s no immediate plan to set up a Disneyland in India. Right now in India, our focus is on television.’’ Jain, however, declined to comment on the other locations where Disneyland could come up after Hong Kong, which is the fifth in the world besides two in the US and one each in Paris and Tokyo. ‘‘We are looking forward to the Hong Kong opening in September. As this would be the closest to India, it would give Indians an exposure to Disneyland,’’ he said. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, Sans-serif]For the next destination in Asia, Singapore and Dubai score high as both have good infrastructure and attract huge number of tourists. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, Sans-serif]The company looks at the entire region (not just the country) and the expected returns from there, while setting up a Disney theme park, as the investment is high at $3-3.5 billion, sources said. In India, there’s perhaps a mismatch between the investment needed for Disneyland, infrastructure of the country and expected returns from the project, they pointed out. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, Sans-serif]On consumer products business, Jain said: ‘‘Going by our international experience, modern organised retail should give a positive impetus to the Disney consumer business in India.’’ He added that Walt Disney is excited about India considering FDI in the retail sector. FDI in the sector is likely to result in significant improvement in organised retailing in India.[/FONT]