Legoland Malaysia: A catalyst for Johor's growth

22 February 2010 , By New Straits Times

MOST successful major theme parks around the world are both top tourist attractions and money-spinners, with people willing to fly half way round the globe with their families just to enjoy their fantastic rides.

However, building a theme park requires huge capital outlay and comes with no guarantee of success, even if it has the best facilities and is in a good location. Furthermore, new rides and attractions have to be added every few years so its repeat visitors will not get bored of experiencing the same old thing.

Since the 80s, I have visited many theme parks and attractions, including those in the United States (Orlando's Epcot Centre, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Gatorland), China (Shenzhen's Window of the World), Australia (Gold Coast's Australian Outback Spectacular, Movie World, Seaworld, Wet `n Wild and Dreamworld) and all of Japan's major theme parks. The Tokyo Disneysea and Tokyo Disneyland are so amazing that my family and I have been there more than once.

Our next destination could be Singapore, where a Universal Studios recently opened up within Resorts World Sentosa on Sentosa Island to help generate some tourist dollars for the city state.

This is the second Universal Studios to open in Asia - the first is in Osaka, which I also visited - but the first in Southeast Asia.

Malaysia, too, will also have her very own international branded theme park: Legoland Malaysia.

The first in Asia and the fifth Legoland in the world (the others are in US, Denmark, Germany and Britain), it will give local and foreign tourists another reason to come to Johor.

The RM750 million, 70-acre theme park is some 20 minutes from the Second Link and within Medini in Nusajaya, one of five flagship zones of Iskandar Malaysia.

Muhammad Zainal Ashikin, director of IDR Resorts Sdn Bhd, the project holding company of Legoland Malaysia, said the park will be completed in 2012 - a year ahead of schedule and will feature over 40 types of rides and attractions.

"It will have more than 15,000 Lego structures using 2,500 different types of Lego pieces," he pointed out.

"One of the main attractions will be a gigantic replica of the Petronas Twin Towers, all built using Lego bricks - it will be the tallest Lego structure in the world!" There will also be replicas of famous landmarks of the world.

While the Lego structures and attractions such as the roller coaster rides will be outdoors, the food and beverage outlets will be housed in air-conditioned buildings.

"There will also be a 4D theatre and a driving school where children can obtain their first driving license, recognised by Legoland worldwide.

Muhammad Zainal said Legoland Malaysia will be a catalyst- driving demand for properties in the surrounding developments that include serviced apartments, hotels and other commercial activities within Medini's international financial district.

"The immediate catchment is from Johor Baru and Singapore but we also expect to draw tourists from this region and elsewhere.

"In the opening year, our target is between 1.3 million and 1.5 million visitors."

He added that there will also be other theme parks in Iskandar Malaysia, all within an eight-kilometre radius of Legoland Malaysia.

IDR Resorts was set up by Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB) and United Kingdom-based Merlin Entertainments (the park's designer and operator as well as owner of the Legoland theme park brand).

Merlin's shareholders are US private equity firm Blackstone Group, Dubai International Capital and Lego Holding, while state investment agency Khazanah Nasional holds 60 per cent of IIB.