THE completion of phase one development at Funtasy Island in Indonesia’s Riau Archipelago has now been set for 4Q2015, with several key facilities to be ready for travellers by then.
A dedicated ferry terminal, public boardwalks, a sandy beach with activities, the Coral Club Pool & Spa, 80-100 units of the 150-key Corallium Villas and two attractions – Stingray Cove and Deep Ocean Wonder – will open before the year is over, Thiva Kesavan, vice president-operations with owner/developer Funtasy Island Development (FID), told TTG Asia e-Daily.
A total of eight eco zone attractions will be developed by Seven Seas Funtasy Development, following a joint venture agreement inked on June 5, 2014. This will position Funtasy Island as the world’s largest eco theme park.
Michael Yong, FID director, pointed out that Funtasy Island is blessed with rich biodiversity. He said: “We have a deep commitment to preserving the natural habitat of the island. We chose to give up 50 units of Corallium Villas to preserve a mangrove forest in that area.
“We have invested in solutions to enhance the environment, such as planting 1,000Dendrocalamus giganteus seeds, which will grow into giant bamboo that give out plenty of oxygen while retaining more water in the ground, and planting more berries to attract more colourful birds. A coral breeding programme is also in the works.”
FID works closely with local government agencies and marine biology experts, such as professor Lee Siew Eang of Zeb Technology, to meet its eco goals.
Meanwhile, the dissolution of an agreement between FID and Meritus Hotels & Resorts to manage the island’s accommodation facilities has not been an obstacle. Janice Azupardo, Meritus spokesperson, said the MoU was terminated in 2014 due to changes in both parties’ business objectives.
Yong remarked: “We have several hotel companies knocking on our doors, and we will continue to look for a partner that shares our eco vision and has a global presence.”
