Blocks in place for Legoland at Iskandar

03 December 2009 , By Business Times Singapore

Construction of Asia's first Legoland theme park - a US$200 million project featuring 40 different rides and attractions - began yesterday at Iskandar Malaysia in Johor.

The 26-hectare Legoland Malaysia Resort, which will open its doors in 2012, is the centrepiece of the Medini North, a lifestyle development that will feature a retail mall, themed and business hotels, and office and residential spaces.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Iskandar Investment president and chief executive Arlida Ariff was hopeful that the building of this 'great entertainment development' could pave the way for Iskandar Malaysia to work with more global partners and transform it into a 'thriving new metropolis in Asia'.

A year on since the deal was first inked to build Legoland Malaysia, Legoland Development general manager John Ussher said that the construction phase was now in full swing to bring the rollercoasters, shows and more than 15,000 Lego models scattered around the theme park to life.

Legoland Malaysia, which is about a 15-minute drive from the Malaysian immigration checkpoint at the Second Link which leads to Tuas, will have a 'Miniland' featuring miniature Lego replicas of famous buildings and structures across Asia, including the Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest twin buildings in the world.

Legoland Malaysia is managed by Merlin Entertainments, which operates well-known attractions such as the London Eye observation wheel in England and Madame Tussauds museums.

Last month, Johor Mentri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman insisted that Johor is not competing with Singapore in attracting tourists to the Legoland park and the soon-to-be-built Family Indoor Theme Park in Puteri Harbour.

While Singapore gears up to open the Universal Studios theme park at the Resorts World integrated resort next year, Mr Othman said that it would cater more for young adults, while Johor's two parks were targeted at children below the age of 12.

Legoland Malaysia joins its sister parks in Denmark, the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom. Those four parks collectively draw some six million visitors a year. There are also plans to open a Legoland in Dubai by 2015.