More cover from heat for visitors to Legoland

JOHOR BARU: Legoland Malaysia will provide more cover from the scorching heat for visitors.

Its general manager Siegfried Boerst said there were areas that have been covered and more would be provided in future. “We are confident that the 3,500 trees planted around the park will also provide shade for visitors in future,” he said. Boerst said they were making the changes based on feedback they received since the sneak previews started last month.

Although the park is scheduled to be opened to the public on Sept 15, thousands of people including staff, members of the media and others have visited the theme park in Nusajaya. While many gave a thumbs-up, some complained about the heat.

Mini Mahal: A visitor admiring a miniature version of the famous Taj Mahal building made from Lego on display for visitors at Legoland Malaysia in Nusajaya, Johor.

“So far we have been getting huge crowds. “Even our staff are excited about working in Legoland,” he said at the launch of Legoland’s promotion via taxi drivers here yesterday. On the number of people that the park could accommodate, he said it would be able to accommodate between 15,000 and 20,000 people a day. A total of 300 taxi drivers were given a special preview of Legoland for them to share first-hand knowledge of the park’s 40 rides, shows and attractions with passengers.

Meanwhile, state tourism and domestic trade committee chairman Datuk Hoo Seong Chang said the opening of Legoland and several other theme parks, including the Indoor Entertainment Theme Park in Puteri Habour, Austin, and Desaru would continue to boost tourism into the state. “For the first six months of this year, there is already a 7% to 10% increase in tourist arrivals,” he said, adding that the Johor Premium Outlet (JPO) has helped boost the number of tourists and visitors to the state.

Asked about whether the state had enough hotels to cater for the expected tourism boom, he said that they expect 15,000 new hotel rooms around Iskandar Malaysia within the next three years. Hoo urged the front liners including taxi drivers, Customs and immigration officials to portray a positive image to visitors so they would continue frequenting the state.

-thestar online.