LOCAL theme parks are eager to welcome international tourists after the “roller-coaster” ride from the pandemic.
The return of international travellers is expected to boost the theme park industry, especially with no test or quarantine required to cross
the Malaysia-Singapore land border. Malaysia’s largest theme park operator, Sunway Theme Parks, is also thrilled in welcoming back families and its fans from neighbouring countries.
“With Singapore contributing to a significant footfall to Malaysia pre-pandemic, both Sunway Lagoon and Sunway Lost World of Tambun are prepared to showcase the best of Malaysian hospitality,” Sunway Theme Parks ED Calvin Ho told The Malaysian Reserve.
Overall, he hopes that Sunway’s theme parks will recover 90% of its international tourists during pre-pandemic.
“This would help spur the economic recovery of the millions of tourism-related opportunities and jobs that have been lost,” he added.
Although some Covid-19 restrictions remain, Ho said both of its theme parks are equipped with thorough safety and health procedures.
He said Sunway has increased contactless points featuring pre-booking through its platforms, e-wallet payment facilities and park information through QR codes.
Moreover, he said Sunway’s theme parks also offer enticing packages to domestic and foreign tourists alike.
“In Sunway Lagoon, we have expanded our business to include first-of-its-kind camping in a theme park with ‘Camp Out!’ — located in Kuala Lumpur which offers worldclass theme parks and shopping.
“A little further up north in Ipoh — once quoted by CNN as ‘Malaysia’s Rising Tourism Star’ — we are anticipating ecotourism lovers to visit Sunway Lost World of Tambun as it is nestled within an enclave of 400 million years old limestone hills,” he said.
Meanwhile, Genting Malaysia Bhd’s (GenM) Resorts World Genting (RWG) is expected to receive about 30 million visitors gradually from the reopening of borders.
RWG senior VP (sales and marketing) Spencer Lee told a recent press conference that the number of tourist arrivals has shown encouraging growth since RWG resumed operations in stages in September last year.
“We are very confident in the business prospects and expect the recovery aspect to involve a positive tourist presence this year backed by the border opening and ready to operate at the highest capacity to meet the expected surge in visitor attendance,” he said.
Currently, GenM is holding a soft opening of its highly anticipated outdoor theme park’s Genting SkyWorlds while focusing on the progressive rollout of the remaining attractions in the theme park.
UOB Kay Hian Securities (M) Sdn Bhd head of research Vincent Khoo also expects GenM to turn profitable on the back of reopening borders.
“We foresee a continued revenue uptrend, led by the country’s imminent border reopening, and predict a surge in patronage to Genting SkyWorlds,” Khoo said in a recent report.
Source: https://themalaysianreserve.com/2022/04/22/international-tourists-to-boost-local-theme-parks-business/