TTG ASIA MARCH 2019
opening of good theme parks like
Adlabs Imagica which is close to No-
votel Imagica Khopoli, making it ide-
al for family holidays,” said Rajat Sin-
ghal, director, Leisure World Tours.
However, Singhal added that in
terms of quality and scale, theme
parks in India still lag behind those
in Singapore and the UAE.
“We can’t compete in terms of
theme parks. Our cultural and na-
ture products will be the prime at-
traction for international travellers,”
said Singhal. “If India has world-class
theme parks like Disney World, it will
be an added advantage for the Indian
inbound segment,” added Goyal. –
Rohit Kaul
Indonesia – wildlife over thrill rides
While theme parks are opening at
a steady pace in Indonesia, amuse-
ment parks tend to be left out of tour
programmes by the country’s major
operators in favour of wildlife attrac-
tions.
In Jakarta, Ancol Dreamland has
been continuously introducing new
attractions, while the Jakarta Aquari-
um opened a couple of years ago.
Trans Property, which owns the
Trans Studio Makassar and Band-
ung, is adding its third theme park in
Cibubur in eastern Jakarta.
And in Batu, a small city in East
Java, the Jawa Timur Park Group
launched three Jatim Parks (named
REPORT: THEME PARKS 13
Jatim Parks 1, 2, 3). Jatim Park 3 re-
cently saw the addition of the Dino
Park, with 17 zones.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s MNC
Land, the developer of a 2,000ha
leisure, entertainment and lifestyle
MNC Lido City in Bogor, West Java
has a new world-class theme park
in the works. Among the attractions
will be the favourite MNC TV’s ani-
mated programmes and movies.
Similarly, a Cartoon Network-
branded park will soon open in Bali,
while Mandalika Development in
Lombok is also planning to add an
internationally branded theme park.
However, many of the country’s
theme parks are focusing on the
huge domestic market and direct-to-
consumer sales.
Renato Domini, CEO of Panora-
ma Destination, said: “Theme parks
attract travellers, but are not seen as a
priority, (but a) value-add.”
Umberto Cadamuro, COO In-
bound of Pacto, added: “The (top-
performing parks) in our pro-
grammes are Taman Safari Indonesia
and the Bali Bird Park. They have
been able to (offer) an experience
coupled with a high standard of
animal care, with the first being suit-
able for any market and the second
very popular in Europe. (The latter
is) now becoming a must-visit in
nearly all Indian tour operator pro-
grammes.” – Mimi Hudoyo
TTG Asia Print Ad - Bigger Marvel_OP.pdf 1 14/2/2019 12:41
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
Hottest theme park openings in APAC
Raaj Navaratnaa, general manager, New Asia Holiday Tours & Travel, Malaysia
“Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park. It is still very new, exciting and educational. It pro-
vides an opportunity for Malaysians to see marine life which they would otherwise not
encounter, such as dolphins, sharks and whales. At the same time, they indirectly in-
still values of conservation and.combating global warming... There are also thrill rides
that appeal to adrenaline junkies. For Malaysians drawn to Shanghai for shopping,
diverse cuisine and sightseeing, the theme park is a complementary attraction.”
Praveen Chugh, COO, agency sales, Via, India
“Shanghai Disney Resort. Apart from offering a range of attractions, entertainment,
dining and shopping options, it is the fastest-expanding Disney resort ever. The resort
has (enhanced the appeal of Shanghai) for visitors and its immense success since
opening is a testament to this.”
Ng Hi-on, director, CTS International Services Technology & Culture Exchange,
Hong Kong
“I vote for Lionsgate Entertainment World, located in Novotown (phase one), Zhu-
hai. Set to open in 1H2019, the attraction boasts Asia’s first movie-themed indoor
experience and (places an emphasis) on technology, which suits young travellers
from Hong Kong. As it’s located close to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, visitors may be
drawn to the prospect of experiencing (both
parks) in one trip.
Chotechuang Soorangura, associate manag-
ing director, NS Travel & Tours, Thailand
“I think the newly opened Legoland in Nagoya
is interesting. It may not be so popular as
the Disneyland in Tokyo but it is an interest-
ing choice for foreign tourists because it
combines European and Japanese styles.
The combined atmosphere is attractive. The
overall atmosphere is different from Legoland
parks elsewhere”.
Legoland Nagoya