Green shoots of recovery for theming industry

THOUGHTS as to exactly when the world amusement and theme parks industry will have fully recovered from the recent economic maelstrom remain highly subjective, although many companies are expecting an upswing in 2010. “In the European amusement park industry,

we had last year a very divided field of economic effects due to the overall world economy,” said

Olaf Mordelt, owner and managing director of Heimo, the German themed products manufacturer. “Northern European parks have had a healthy increase, whereas the southern parks which are also depending on tourism were not so lucky.” While there are huge differences in individual

perceptions of the road to recovery, the industry is united in believing that innovation will be a key factor in stimulating growth across all regions. Ironically, however, investors remain extremely cautious and operators are still very careful when it comes to major investments. “In 2009 many of our customers postponed

their decisions,” said Matthias Clostermann (left) CEO of Clostermann Design. “However, they seem to want to make up for this delay now all the more and we are glad that our entertainment concepts have convinced our clients even over these long decision making phases.”

Resorts World opens

with a bang

ON February 14, the date which marked the Chinese New Year, Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore’s much-anticipated mixed-use destination, underwent a soft opening. Plans for the 490,000 sq m integrated resort

were unveiled in 2005, after government officials said they would lift a ban on gambling and award developer Genting Singapore two gaming licenses. Two casinos and south east Asia’s first

Universal Studios theme park are set to become the main drawcards of the resort and after cutting the ribbon on its first casino on February 14, visitors were given a preview of the project. Resorts World Sentosa looks set to raise the

Chocolate

‘theme park’ opens in China

A 215,000sq m “chocolate wonderland” has opened its doors to visitors in China. The temperature-controlled theme park,

located near the Olympic stadium in Beijing, includes a number of installations - all of which are made entirely of chocolate. Attractions include life-size replicas of the

Terracotta Warriors, a BMW saloon car and a miniature interpretation of the Great Wall of China. “Even though chocolate in China is not as

popular as it is in western countries, we hope to promote the chocolate culture and market in China,” said Zheng Yaoting, manager of the firm running the

general park.

THE initial architectural master plan and related feasibility studies for a new 185ha resort in Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam, have been completed. In December 2008, Wolf Vierich, chairman

of The Vitala Group, signed an agreement with the Thanh Nien Joint Stock Corporation for eight separate projects to be financed, the first of which - the Cam Ranh Eco Resort project - is nearing completion for project financing. The development, which will be located on

the tourist-heavy south-central coast of Vietnam, will be financed by Vitala at an estimated cost of $110m. It will include a 326-room convention hotel, an indoor/outdoor waterpark, thermal hot springs, 276 apartments and condos, a casino, 35 retail units, a market street, a small marina and an electric go-kart track. Among the many leisure and sports facilities will

be an amphitheatre, a sea life centre, an aviary and butterfly house, a multi-purpose sports academy and a family entertainment centre. Project opening is forecast to be in

December 2013.

5

Vietnam resort given green light

bar for south east Asia’s growing attractions market. Billed as the region’s “ultimate leisure destination,” the integrated resort will include the world’s largest marine life park, a maritime museum, a large-scale animatronics installation, a spa and Kids Club, an exclusive zone designed for children aged between three and six that will feature an array of indoor games and attractions. In the wake of the soft opening, Lim Kok Thay,

executive chairman of Malaysia’s giant Genting Group, said: “Universal Studios Singapore wrapped up a week of Chinese New Year sneak peeks to great reviews and we are excited to be gearing up to take our first guests on the rides. This is the region’s only Universal Studios theme park and it will be a tourism crown jewel not just for Singapore, but Asia as a whole.’’ Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52