A picture taken on February 22, 2011 shows a scale model of the Legoland Malaysia theme park on display in sourthern state of Johor Bahru. Asia's first Legoland theme park is on track to open next year in southern Malaysia, its builder said, as the region goes all out to lure tourists with a series of big ticket attractions. -- PHOTO: AFP
JOHOR BAHRU (Malaysia) - ASIA'S first Legoland theme park is on track to open next year in southern Malaysia, its builder said, as the region goes all out to lure tourists with a series of big ticket attractions.
Earthmovers have flattened a vast expanse of oil palm-covered hills to make way for the 31ha Legoland Malaysia, one of the main attractions of a new city and economic zone called Iskandar Malaysia.
The park, which will offer 40 rides, shows and displays of the famous Lego toy bricks of Denmark, is just across a waterway from Singapore, which opened South-east Asia's first Universal Studios entertainment complex in 2010.
Zainal Ashikin Muhammad, chief executive of IDR Resorts, the builder of Legoland Malaysia, said the new park will complement Universal Studios Singapore rather than compete with it for customers.
Model builders working at the Legoland Malaysia ModelShop. LEGOLAND Malaysia will be the first LEGOLAND theme park in Asia. -- PHOTO: NURIA LING
Model builders working at the Legoland Malaysia ModelShop. LEGOLAND Malaysia will be the first LEGOLAND theme park in Asia. -- PHOTO: NURIA LING
Model of buildings along Jln Wong Ah Fook, which is known for its old buildings at JB Central. LEGOLAND Malaysia will be the first LEGOLAND theme park in Asia. -- PHOTO: NURIA LING
A model builder uses the Lego BrickBuilder software to design the Lego model he is working on at the Legoland Malaysia ModelShop. LEGOLAND Malaysia will be the first LEGOLAND theme park in Asia. -- PHOTO: NURIA LING
Model of the Taj Mahal at the Legoland Malaysia ModelShop. LEGOLAND Malaysia will be the first LEGOLAND theme park in Asia. -- PHOTO: NURIA LING
Muhammad Zainal Ashikin b. Muhammad Rejab (right), Director of IDR Resorts Sendirian Berhad, and Seigfried Boerst, Senior Director Operations of Legoland Malaysia, posing in front of a model of buildings along Jln Wong Ah Fook, which is known for its old buildings at JB Central.
In a picture taken on February 22, 2011 Zainal Ashikin Muhammad, chief executive of IDR Resorts, which is building Legoland Malaysia, shows reporters the master plan for the theme park in the sourthern state of Johor Bahru. Asia's first Legoland theme park is on track to open next year in southern Malaysia, its builder said, as the region goes all out to lure tourists with a series of big ticket attractions. -- PHOTO: AFP
In a picture taken on February 22, 2011 Zainal Ashikin Muhammad, chief executive of IDR Resorts which is building Asia's first Legoland theme park displays a photo of a famous Malaysian mosque in front of a replica of its dome using Lego bricks in sourthern state of Johor Bahru. Asia's first Legoland theme park is on track to open next year in southern Malaysia, its builder said, as the region goes all out to lure tourists with a series of big ticket attractions. -- PHOTO: AFP
Map of LEGOLAND Malaysia. -- PHOTO: COURTESY OF ISKANDAR INVESTMENT
'Is there a saturation of theme parks? In this region, no. There's still a lot of growth for theme park development,' he said during a recent media tour organised by Iskandar Malaysia.
European visitor attractions operator Merlin Entertainments, whose stable includes Madame Tussauds, the London Eye and Sea Life, has been roped in to operate Legoland Malaysia. When completed, Legoland Malaysia will be the sixth of its kind in the world after those in Denmark, Britain, California, Florida and Germany. -- AFP
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