By Sharen Kaur
sharen@nstp.com.my
sharen@nstp.com.my
STRATEGIC BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY: Khazanah exploring to grow Themed Attractions and Resorts via public offering
KUALA LUMPUR: Khazanah Nasional Bhd may list its leisure and tourism arm Themed Attractions and Resorts (TAR) Sdn Bhd on Bursa Malaysia.
This is one of the "strategic business opportunities" Khazanah is exploring to grow Themed Attractions further, Business Times was told.
Nearly RM1 billion has so far been invested to build Themed Attractions' park portfolio since its inception in 2009.
The portfolio includes KidZania Kuala Lumpur, Legoland Malaysia and three attractions within the Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park in Nusajaya, Johor.
The combined investment for these operating assets was RM910 million. They consist of RM80 million for KidZania, RM110 million for the Puteri Harbour theme park - which includes SANRIO Hello Kitty Town, The Little BIG Club and LAT's Place - and RM720 million for Legoland.
Funding for the projects were mainly through loans, equity stakes via partnership and joint ventures, as well as from Khazanah, Themed Attractions chief executive officer Tunku Datuk Ahmad Burhanuddin said.
On how long it expects to recoup the investments, Ahmad Burhanuddin said the company is taking a disciplined approach and a long-term view in its investments.
"The economic fundamentals remain broadly positive across Southeast Asia. We have witnessed growth in tourism and domestic consumption and therefore can expect more visitors to the attractions (to generate revenue)," he added.
Since December 2012, the Puteri Harbour theme park has attracted over 160,000 visitors, while KidZania Kuala Lumpur received more than 400,000 visitors since it was launched last February.
Legoland has recorded over one million visitors since its launch in September last year.
Themed Attractions expects to open five new attractions by 2016, This year, it will open Legoland water theme park in Nusajaya and Kidzania Singapore by 2015.
At the Desaru holiday resort in Desaru Coast, the company will open Ocean Splash Water Park and Ocean Quest Marine Park, investing about RM270 million for the development by 2015 or 2016.
The Malaysia Truly Asia Centre (MTAC), an iconic tourist attraction in Kuala Lumpur housing Malaysian culture and entertainment, will open in 2016.
MTAC is part of the Economic Transformation Programme under Greater Kuala Lumpur.
Ahmad Burhanuddin did say previously that Themed Attractions was in talks with Merlin Entertainments Group to discuss the possibility of opening other attractions in Malaysia, hence funding becomes crucial.
Merlin Entertainments had collaborated with the company and Iskandar Investment Bhd to develop Legoland here.
Besides Legoland, other attractions by Merlin Entertainments include the Madame Tussauds wax museum, Sea Life, The Dungeons, The EDF Energy London Eye, Heide Park and Warwick Castle.
This is one of the "strategic business opportunities" Khazanah is exploring to grow Themed Attractions further, Business Times was told.
Nearly RM1 billion has so far been invested to build Themed Attractions' park portfolio since its inception in 2009.
The portfolio includes KidZania Kuala Lumpur, Legoland Malaysia and three attractions within the Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park in Nusajaya, Johor.
Funding for the projects were mainly through loans, equity stakes via partnership and joint ventures, as well as from Khazanah, Themed Attractions chief executive officer Tunku Datuk Ahmad Burhanuddin said.
On how long it expects to recoup the investments, Ahmad Burhanuddin said the company is taking a disciplined approach and a long-term view in its investments.
"The economic fundamentals remain broadly positive across Southeast Asia. We have witnessed growth in tourism and domestic consumption and therefore can expect more visitors to the attractions (to generate revenue)," he added.
Since December 2012, the Puteri Harbour theme park has attracted over 160,000 visitors, while KidZania Kuala Lumpur received more than 400,000 visitors since it was launched last February.
Legoland has recorded over one million visitors since its launch in September last year.
Themed Attractions expects to open five new attractions by 2016, This year, it will open Legoland water theme park in Nusajaya and Kidzania Singapore by 2015.
At the Desaru holiday resort in Desaru Coast, the company will open Ocean Splash Water Park and Ocean Quest Marine Park, investing about RM270 million for the development by 2015 or 2016.
The Malaysia Truly Asia Centre (MTAC), an iconic tourist attraction in Kuala Lumpur housing Malaysian culture and entertainment, will open in 2016.
MTAC is part of the Economic Transformation Programme under Greater Kuala Lumpur.
Ahmad Burhanuddin did say previously that Themed Attractions was in talks with Merlin Entertainments Group to discuss the possibility of opening other attractions in Malaysia, hence funding becomes crucial.
Merlin Entertainments had collaborated with the company and Iskandar Investment Bhd to develop Legoland here.
Besides Legoland, other attractions by Merlin Entertainments include the Madame Tussauds wax museum, Sea Life, The Dungeons, The EDF Energy London Eye, Heide Park and Warwick Castle.
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