(MY) theme parks in Penang

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Wednesday November 8, 2006-The Star

 

 

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.