INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE
MALAYSIA STEVE PEET
Malaysia, well known for its nature-based tourism assets, has not yet made its mark on the international attractions stage. Steve Peet tells Jennifer Harbottle about plans to create an ‘Asian Orlando’
T
o date, it’s fair to say Malaysia has been a bit behind in the themed attractions area of a typi- cal growing economy. In 2007, the
Malaysian government commissioned research to assess the main economic stimuli for Malaysia’s future. Leisure and tourism was recognised as one of the 12 drivers, for what is now referred to as the Government Economic Transformation Programme. Khazanah Nasional Berhad is the investment arm of the Malaysian gov- ernment, tasked with developing industries in Malaysia that will benefi t the nation’s long-term economic interests. In 2009,
Kazanah set up two companies, Themed Attractions – with Steve Peet as COO – and Destination Resorts, to develop Malaysia’s Leisure & Tourism industry.
NEW YEAR, NEW ERA 2012 is a signifi cant year for the two com- panies. Both are on the cusp of opening a number of world-class attractions and luxurious resort destinations that will signal a new era for the Malaysian travel market. These include Legoland Malaysia, Puteri Harbour, Desaru Coast and KidZania Kuala Lumpur (KL). Apart from KidZania, their initial projects will be centred in the
Southern Gateway to Malaysia in the state of Johor, known for its strategic location to neighbouring Singapore. Legoland Malaysia Resort, which will include the fi rst Legoland theme park in Asia, will also feature a Legoland hotel, a retail mall, a business hotel plus offi ce and residential areas. It will retain its Asian touch by featur- ing miniature replicas of iconic buildings across Asia, including Malaysia’s Petronas Twin Towers – soon to be the tallest Lego structure in the world. A second development in the Southern
region, set to open in October, is Puteri Harbour – a mixed hotel, retail and enter- tainment complex along the coastline that will feature a Sanrio-licensed Hello Kitty indoor theme park. Puteri Harbour will also include a second
indoor theme park called The Little Big Club designed around other branded char- acters, such as Bob the Builder, Pingu and Angelina Ballerina. Tunku Dato’ Ahmad Burhanuddin, managing director and chief executive offi cer of Themed Attractions and Resorts Sdn Bhd, describes the dis- tribution of theme parks within the 50km radius spanning Johor and Singapore as “aspirational of an Asian Orlando”.
KidZania Kuala Lumpur will offer 59 workplaces so children can learn about different occupations
20 Read Attractions Management online
attractionsmanagement.com/digital
KIDZANIA The fi rst attraction to open under Themed Attractions is KidZania KL, which will kick start the group’s operations when it opens in February 2012. The group will open a second KidZania in Singapore in 2014.
AM 1 2012 ©cybertrek 2012
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