Legoland theme park draws in the crowds

Visitors to the newly-opened Legoland Malaysia admiring a model of a port at the theme park in Nusajaya, Johor. which is among the most popular spots in the theme park.

NUSAJAYA:  Huge crowds packed the newly-opened Legoland theme park yesterday as tourists from other states and Singapore took advantage of the long weekend to visit the latest family entertainment hub in the country. Hotels around here reported full occupancy because of the spillover effect from the theme park which opened on Saturday.

Newly-opened KSL Resort had a corporate booking for 220 rooms on Saturday and all the guests visited Legoland before checking into the hotel for their annual dinner. Its sales and marketing director, John Ting, said the hotel registered a high occupancy rate over the weekend and had benefited from Legoland.

Pulai Springs Resort marketing communications manager Charlotte Monterio said the hotel's accommodation package, which comes with two Legoland passes, was selling like hot cakes since it was launched last month. She said 180 room packages were booked for the first two days of the opening. "We are very happy with the response and will continue with our room promotion package by tying up with the theme park."

Johor Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Hoo Seong Chang said the state government was having discussions with tourism industry players to increase room supply in Iskandar Malaysia. He said the birth of a world-class theme park in Johor would undeniably bring in more tourists, hence the need for more rooms during school holidays and weekends.

"Legoland has not only benefited the hotel industry, it has also brought businesses to the retail and food sectors, too. "The economic spillover is tremendous. "With a new attraction in Johor other than the Johor Premium Outlet, we foresee a sharp rise in tourists, especially during school holidays," he added.

More than 35,000 annual passes offered at special rates have already been sold, with more than 60 per cent being taken up by locals.

The RM700 million theme park, which occupies 30ha in Iskandar Malaysia, comprises seven parks with different themes. Legoland Malaysia features replicas of iconic Asian landmarks such as the Petronas Twin Towers, the Great Wall of China, India's Taj Mahal and Singapore's Marina Bay, recreated using more than 25 million Lego bricks.

-nst online.