Park News
parkworld-online.com MORE PARKS PLANNED FOR MALAYSIA
The Malaysian town of Rawang, in the state of Selangor, has been earmarked for a new theme park following a deal between DA Land and the Sanderson Group. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding on 20 March. As we went to press, Sanderson also revealed details of an indoor park planned for Perak. The park in Rawang, whihc fetaures an initial budget of RM300 million ($90m/65m), will form part of a larger RM5 billion ($1.5bn/1.1bn) project named The Two. Sanderson will conceptualise, design and operate the 1 million sq ft (9.3 hectare) indoor and outdoor park, the theme for which has yet to be decided. The Australian-based group, which established an office in Kuala Lumpur in 2006, does not rule out bringing on board an intellectual property and says the budget may increase closer to construction once the final format is decided. “With Sanderson’s experience, we strongly believe they will give us a special idea and concept,” says DA Land chief operating officer Sip Mun Yee. “For the outdoor park, we are thinking of an eco-friendly waterpark.”
The park will be built as part of the first phase of
The Two, along with various retail and hotel components, likely to open in either 2018 or 2019. The remaining two phases are still at the planning stage, but the complete project is expected to take 10 to 15 years to complete.
Currently the world’s 10th most visited country, Malaysia’s Tourism Ministry has identified a target of 36 million tourists by 2020, up from the present Developments like The Two together with the new 20th Century Fox World theme park at Resorts World Genting (also in Selangor) and various ongoing government-backed projects near the Singapore border in Nusajaya (Johor), are expected to play a major part in delivering that growth. “Integrated destinations have been a key economic and strategic development catalyst used in Singapore and it is our pleasure to bring our successful 25 years of knowledge and expertise to realise this exciting project,” says Sanderson’s director of business development, Luke Riley. “The Two has excellent connectivity, with direct access from the North South Expressway, connecting seven of Malaysia’s 11 peninsular states – and continuing into Thailand in the north and Singapore in the south. To
Gardaland takes to the lake
Set to open on 1 April, Prezzemolo Land is Gardaland’s new fortress- themed playground and splash area, and the new home of the Italian park’s popular dragon mascot. Alongside all the pre-promotion you might expect, Gardaland embarked on novel initiative recently by setting sail with a giant banner featuring its fairytale castle on the side of one of the ferries that shuttles passengers between the east and west shores of nearby Lake Garda. Leaving from the port of Sirmione, home to its own impressive castle,
Prezzemolo himself was there to welcome his fans on board. Guests were given their place on the oat in exchange for help with surveys suggesting new ideas for Gardaland attractions. For Fabio Busato and his two children Elisa and Martina, Prezzemolo
Land will be a dream come true following their request for: “an area dedicated to the fun of younger kids and to the relax of the whole family, a place where children of various ages can play in total safety while their parents relax in a comfortable and absolutely pleasant space.“ No sooner said than done, bambini!
gardaland.it/prezzemololand
borrow the words of Mr Mun Yee Sip: ‘you can feel the energy!’”
*Malaysia is set to get its first animation theme park with the construction of the Movie Animation Park Studios (MAPS), a RM450 million partnership between Sanderson Group and the Perak Corporation. The indoor attraction (pictured) will open towards the end of next year in Perak and feature six zones including Animation Square, Fantasy Forest, Live Action, Space Zone, DreamWorks and the Lakeside Zone.
No tax cut for UK attractions As many as 24 out of 27 European Union countries allow a reduced rate
of value added tax (VAT) on tourism. The United Kingdom is not likely to join them any time soon. In his annual budget speech on 18 March, the British chancellor of the exchequer, George Osbourne, refused to offer any special concessions to amusement parks or other attractions, and so they will continue to pay a VAT rate of 20% for the foreseeable future. There have been big increases recently in France and Spain, however fun fairs, circuses and amusement parks in the Republic of Ireland currently enjoy a VAT rate of just 9%, in The Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal it’s 6%, while in the tiny and notoriously low tax country of Luxembourg it’s just 3%. “The Chancellor often talks about how he wants the UK to be tax competitive; how is it that in respect of tourism, which is such an important sector for exports and employment, he is happy to let the UK be so far behind the game?” asks Merlin Entertainments chief executive Nick Varney. “A cut in the rate of VAT on tourism would actually increase revenue to the government in the medium to long term.”
cuttourismvat.co.uk
IAAPI Expo 2015 When is India’s main amusement industry trade show taking place in 2015? IAAPI Amusement Expo returns to Mumbai’s Bombay exhibition Centre from 11 to 13 February. India’s theme park and attractions industry has been growing at a rate of more than 17% with current annual revenue of approximately INR 17 billion ($270m/202m), estimated to grow to at least INR 40 billion by 2020. Growth of the country’s retail sector and middle class are cited as a catalyst for attraction development, with new parks and shopping malls appearing in many locations. Run by the Indian Association of Amusement Parks & Industries, IAAPI Amusement Expo will offer a mix of domestic and international ride suppliers, networking opportunities and also an awards ceremony.
iaapi.org 12 APRIL 2014
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