FINAL touches are now being made to an expansion masterplan that will transform Enchanted Kingdom, said to be the Philippines’ first and only world-class theme park, into an integrated resort with new attractions, commercial space, hotels and a convention centre.
Explaining the purpose of the redevelopment, Mario Mamon, president of the attraction in Santa Rosa City, Laguna, told TTG Asia e-Daily: “We felt it is now time for us to realise our dream of turning our stand-alone theme park into an integrated resort concept – but without a gaming component. We like to follow the Disney model and have a product that offers wholesome family entertainment.
“We were able to acquire more land around the Enchanted Kingdom. It is now a 10-hectare park, but it will cover 35-40 hectares once the expansion is complete. I expect the first new attraction to open by end-2014 and the rest will open progressively.”
The future Enchanted Kingdom will feature a new attraction zone themed around the local culture, which will serve to “showcase (the Philippines) to the growing number of foreign inbound visitors and educate young Filipino children on their own culture”, revealed Mamon.
A new village showcasing Enchanted Kingdom’s mascot, Eldar the Wizard, and focused on imparting family values is also being planned, along with a water park, retail and F&B space, two or three hotels with a target inventory of 500 to 1,000 rooms, and a convention centre with a main hall of at least 10,000m2.
“This development will transform Enchanted Kingdom and encourage our visitors to stay over the weekend. Our visitors now spend an average of four to six hours, which is so because we have no hotels to offer them,” said Mamon, adding that the convention centre will allow the company to target business events and corporate groups.
“There isn’t a convention facility south of Metro Manila, and we will fill that gap,” he said.
The masterplan will be finalised in 3Q2013.
