Nothing Mickey Mouse about Disney’s impact on Shanghai
New theme park’s target market is 330 million people living in Yangtze River Delta region
There’s nothing Mickey Mouse about Shanghai Disneyland’s expected impact on the city given the level of enthusiasm ahead of the US$5.5 billion theme park’s official opening on Thursday.
“Shanghai Disneyland is set to have an impact on people’s lifestyles here,” said Professor He Jianmin, director of the tourism management department at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. “As people enjoy the attractions and performances inside the park, they will eventually be inspired to enjoy their lives.”
Forget about the financial centre and free-trade zone. People, after getting rich, hope to have some enjoyable experience at fun-filled venues
The theme park, the latest world-class mega project in the mainland’s most developed city, is part of Shanghai’s quest to be counted among the world’s great metropolises.
It’s expected to boost the city’s gross domestic product by 0.8 per cent directly and by double that amount once visitors’ ancillary spending is factored in. But He said the gargantuan entertainment project could also sate mainlanders’ appetite for cultural products.
That’s prompted other experts to sound alarms about the park’s cultural impact.
Shanghai’s chauvinism and grand ambition to transform itself into a global financial centre have made it an easy target for criticism in the past decade.
