With the economic recession bringing down footfalls in its theme parks, entertainment giant Walt Disney Co has announced that it has eliminated about 1,900 jobs.
Disney, which employs about 80,000 people in its parks and resorts unit, said 1,200 people were laid off and about 700 positions were left unfilled in domestic theme parks.
The bulk of the cuts occurred at Walt Disney World in Orlando, where about 1,400 jobs were eliminated. About 300 jobs will be cut from the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, with the remainder coming from corporate headquarters in Burbank, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The company set the stage for the job reductions in February, when it announced a reorganisation of its parks and resorts operation.
"The recession, and the recent decline, has really hit the theme park industry, but it has hit the destination parks more than the regional parks," said Edward Shaw, an associate with Economics Research Associates, a consultant to the travel industry. "People are staying closer to home."
Attendance at Disney's domestic parks fell 5 per cent in the three-month period that ended December 27. Disney started this year with promotions aimed at increasing attendance, such as free admission for people on their birthdays.