Penang keen to have theme parks
By CHOONG KWEE KIM
PENANG is keen on two proposals from international investors for an adventure-themed park in Pulau Jerejak and a water-themed park in Teluk Kum-bar.
State Tourism Development and Environment Committee chairman Teng Chang Yeow said the proposals reflected investor confidence in the state.
“We have to come out with ideas on how best to position ourselves when Singapore’s two casinos open in 2008.
“Penang can have two theme parks as there is no conflict of themes. They will just result in more tourism products in the state,” he told a press con- ference after opening the Penang Tourism Seminar 2006 yesterday.
Teng said he met the investors separately for preliminary discussions of the proposals last month.
He said the proposed theme for Pulau Jerejak was an eco-friendly adventure park designed with a storyline related to the history of Penang.
He said forest reserve covering 71% or 259ha of the 362ha Pulau Jerejak would be free of development.
“The investor will discuss land issues with Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and Uda Holdings Bhd which have their own deve-lopment plans for Pulau Jerejak,” Teng said.
Uda and PDC developed the 8ha Jerejak Resort & Spa in a joint venture. They have another 24ha for future development.
Teng said the proposed site for the water-themed park in Teluk Kumbar would involve private land.
He also said four new four-star hotels would be built in the next 12 to 18 months, providing more 1,000 hotel rooms in Penang.
He said two hotels would be built as annexes behind the Boustead and Wisma Kastam buildings along Weld Quay, one at Queensbay and another at Juru Auto City.
The Boustead development under the Royal Bintang Hotel chain and the other hotel at Wisma Kastam would not involve any demolition of the heritage buildings.
He said they would not be higher than the nearby Ban-gunan Tuanku Syed Putra.
On hotel occupancy rate in the state, he said there was an increase of 10% in the first nine months this year.
News Source : STAR
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1 comment:
If only they're doing a bit more on the traffic problem..
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