Universal Studios mulling 2nd Asian theme park

Asian Economic News, March 26, 2001

HONG KONG, March 19 Kyodo

Hollywood-film theme park operator Universal Studios is looking to open another park in Asia following the March 31 opening of its $2 billion Universal Studios Japan (USJ) in Osaka, a senior executive with operator USJ Co. said Monday.

''We are keeping all of our options open in Hong Kong and the rest of East Asia. We are actively looking for opportunities here,'' said Norman Elder, director and general manager of USJ's marketing division.

Elder, in Hong Kong to promote the Japan project, was responding to reporters' questions about the possibility of another Universal park in the region.

''I think there is ample population to support those kinds of developments,'' he said, saying Walt Disney Co. will have two East Asian parks -- Tokyo Disneyland and a Hong Kong project under construction.

He said he sees competition between Universal and Disney as ''friendly'' because they provide different kinds of entertainment.

Asked if Universal will see how its Osaka park goes before deciding on other projects, Elder said, ''We wanted to take the Japan step first. But after that project was approved and we've gone forward, we've subsequently been looking actively in East Asia, including Hong Kong and mainland China.''

The Osaka park will be the first of its kind outside the United States, and is expected to draw eight million visitors a year, of which 95% will be from Japan.

Elder said his company hopes to attract other visitors from Asia, especially Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and mainland China.

Since tickets became available last month, about 1.5 million have been sold for the park's first three months, he said.

''The response, in our estimation, has been quite phenomenal,'' Elder said. To avoid a crush of people and massive congestion in the first two weekends, the company has decided that all tickets will be sold only through advance booking.

In general, however, the park will have 52,000 tickets available each day, half of which will be offered through advance sales, he said.