Malaysia first in Asia to host Legoland Park

The RM750 million joint venture, Legoland Malaysia, is expected to be operational in 2013.

Merlin will design and operate the park which will be the centrepiece of a 145-acre integrated complex with a gross floor area of 5.5 million square feet that will include a lifestyle retail centre, offices, hotels, serviced apartments and residential units.

The park will be developed in Medini and will be similar to the four other Legoland parks in Billund, Denmark; Windsor, outside of London; Deutschland, Germany; and California, the United States.

These interactive theme parks are dedicated to families with children between the ages of two and 12, and each park will feature more than 50 rides, shows and attractions geared towards family fun.

"IIB selected Legoland as the partner for its first international theme park in Iskandar Malaysia after many months of discussions and engagements with various operators and potential brand partners," said IIB managing director Arlida Ariff.

She said given the significant increase in the number of themed tourism offerings expected in Asia Pacific over the next 20 years, IIB feels the product offerings in Iskandar Malaysia have to be unique and focused.

"Based on this rationale, IIB chose Merlin/Legoland because it provides educational entertainment that will attract families with young children to Iskandar Malaysia as a vacation destination," Arlida added, noting that such families are a fast growing demographic group in Southeast Asia.

Legoland Park managing director John Jakobsen said the Legoland Park in the country will build upon the success of the other Legoland Parks in Europe and North America.

Merlin chief executive Nick Varney said the Malaysian development underlines its confidence in the market despite the current global economic slowdown.

"We believe that while quality branded attractions such as ours are not recession proof, they are recession resilient. Even when times are hard, people will still choose to get away from the gloom and have fun together with family and friends.

"However, they will choose destinations which offer real value for money and which they know will not disappoint. Legoland Parks offer that sort of reassurance and quality," he added.

Source: http://properties.emedia.com.my/listnews.php?propNewsID=1030&CatID=N00