28 Feb 2020
Coronavirus forces closure of all of Disney's Asian parks
BY Tom Anstey
The coronavirus has now forced the closure of all of Disney's theme parks in Asia, after the operator announced plans to close its Tokyo resort as a result of the outbreak.
Japan currently has the fifth-highest number of outbreaks in the world, with 226 confirmed cases and five deaths. Disney is reacting to the spread of the virus, which forced the closure of its Shanghai and Hong Kong theme parks in late January.
Tokyo Disneyland will close from 29 February after Japan's government recommended that big gatherings and events be curtailed for at least two weeks. The park is scheduled to reopen on 16 March, though that will depend on the spread of the virus.
"We will make an announcement after keeping close contact with relevant institutions,” said Oriental Land Co, the operator of Disney's Japanese operation.
The move will also affect Disney's park rival, Universal, which has confirmed the closure of Universal Studios Japan during the same period.
Following the closure of its two Chinese parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong due to the virus, Disney predicted that the outbreak would cost its parks division an estimated US$280m (€253.9m, €253.8m, £214.5m) based on a two-month closure. With the addition of Tokyo Disneyland, those losses will now rise even further.
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