Company Profile
www.parkworld-online.com
Good Food
The Only World Group boasts a portfolio of food and beverage brands including Only Mee noodle house, JR's curry house, Shanghai 10, Jia, East Court, London Café, Hot Pot and Rich Dad. A large cluster of these can be found at Genting Highlands' First World Plaza, although there are several outlets in and around Kuala Lumpur. One of the restaurants of which Only World chairman Data Richard Koh is most proud is Only Mee at First World Plaza. “Eatertainment” at its best, would-be diners are treated to a live show as a chef prepares the noodles behind a circular shop window to passers- by (as seen below). “My wife Jean is a good cook, but she knew nothing about noodles!” says Koh. “So we flew to Japan to learn, and it's been a great success.”
Malaysia’s first rollercoaster: Cyclone at Genting Higlands Good Living
Not all of Only World Group's activities are high energy attractions. The company also operates the Pedas Springs spa (pictured below), Healing Touch massage parlour and Beauty First hair salon at Genting Highlands. Young visitors can even wind down at Pedas Springs' adjoining Jungle Gym children's spa! In the south of Malaysia, near the Guning Panti Recreational Forest in the state of Johor, Only World operates the Kota Tinggi Waterfalls Resort. Here guests can enjoy a small waterpark, pool, spa, hotel accomodation and jungle walkways.
Branded Attractions As Asian Attractions Expo arrives this month in Kuala Lumpur, many eyes in the amusement industry will be on Malaysia. Big things will be happening in the country over the next couple of years as major international brands such as Legoland, Hello Kitty and HIT Entertainment open attractions in the special economic zone of Iskandar in Johor. “It will be like the Orlando of the East!” jokes Koh. But why all this activity now? “Johor is close to Singapore, where the spending power is higher, and also the government is giving some tax incentives.” New attractions like this will encourage all operators to raise their game, and two of Only World Group’s Wet World parks are set for a dramatic transformation. “The market is ready for branded, themed entertainment experiences,” believes Koh. “That’s why we are bringing SpongeBob SquarePants to Wet World in Shah Alam. It will be the first SpongeBob park anywhere in Asia and we hope to start construction towards the end of the year.”
At Wet World in Negeri Sembilan, Only World plans to use its excess land to develop a shopping mall and hotel, something the group’s chairman sees an important area of growth in the years to come. “For now, supplying parks is still our main business. I enjoy catching up with the suppliers, I love travelling and seeing other attractions; it’s a fun business and I enjoy what I do. However, building hotels, shopping malls and other developments will be the next big challenge. That’s the bigger picture and it really interests me.” So are any of Koh’s five children being primed for roles within the amusement business? “They’re all quite young, but my middle daughter, Qi-Ten, seems quite interested. She’s currently studying commerce and accounting at university in Melbourne, so we will have to see what she wants to do when she leaves.” Qi-Ten had better be good with a BlackBerry.
www.onlyworldgroup.com
The shape of things to come: A rendering for SpongeBob SquarePants at Wet World Shah Alam
MAATFA members meet tourism minister
Members of the Malaysian Association of Amusement, Themepark and Family Attractions (MAATFA) met with the country’s tourism minister recently. Keen to secure her support for Asian Attractions Expo in Kuala Lumpur, they also highlighted the scope of the industry. According to MAATFA president Dato Richard Koh, Malaysia boasts 12 outdoor theme parks and waterparks and around 120 indoor facilities, including family entertainment centres, skating arenas and play centres. Major new openings are expected in the next couple of years as international brands such as Legoland, Hello Kitty and HIT Entertainment pile into the special economic zone of Iskandar, close to the border with Singapore. “Theme parks are important because they are family entertainment destinations,” observed the minister, YB Dato Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen.
Since 2000 the number of inbound tourists to Malaysia has grown from 7.9 million to 23.6 million and the country is now the world’s ninth most travelled to destination. As part of Malaysia’s new economic model, even greater emphasis will be placed on tourism in the years to come. The country’s flora and fauna, cultural festivals, shopping and MICE (meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition) are expected to play an important part in attracting additional tourists.
36 The 45-minute meeting, which took place at the Shangri-
La hotel in Putrajaya on June 18, appeared to be a success for MAATFA: “My colleagues never talked much about theme parks before,” concluded the tourism minister. “We will now.”
www.maatfa.com.my
Dato Richard Koh, Only World Group (centre) and M Gunseelan, Desa Water Park (right), were among the MAATFA members given an audience with Tourism minister YB Dato Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen
JULY 2010
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