SIM LEISURE GROUP REACHES NEW GLOBAL EXPANSION MILESTONE

 BY GABRIELLE


Sim Leisure Group, a leading designer of theme and water parks, has reached a new milestone in the international expansion of its ESCAPE brand.

The company has signed an agreement with Sri Lankan-listed Elpitiya Plantations, to develop and operate a theme park in Sri Lanka under the ESCAPE brand.

The ESCAPE Sri Lanka theme park will be located between Colombo and the city of Galle. The first phase of construction of the site on 30 acres of land will begin in 2020.

The island of Sri Lanka has a huge untapped domestic tourism sector. In 2019, the island welcomed 1.91 million international tourists. The opening of a family-friendly theme park is poised to be a successful and welcome addition to Sri Lanka.

Sim Choo Kheng, founder and CEO of Sim Leisure spoke about the potential of bringing the ESCAPE brand to Sri Lanka: “We see a remarkable opportunity in brining the “ESCAPE” brand to Sri Lanka’s domestic tourism landscape. Sri Lankans are very eager for a world-class tourist attraction, and we are very excited for this chapter in Sim Leisure’s regional growth.”

WORLD’S LONGEST WATERSLIDE DUE TO OPEN THIS SUMMER

BY GABRIELLE

At more than 1km in length, the world’s longest waterslide is due to open in Malaysia this summer. Riders will take a full four minutes to slide down the 1,140-metre attraction.

The slide winds through a slope covered in natural trees on the Malaysian island of Penang. The slide will be a new feature of the island’s Escape Theme Park, which is home to zipwires and obstacle courses.

The new waterslide is to be 500 metres longer than the current longest waterslide, located in Action Park, New Jersey.

Unlike the New Jersey giant waterslide, which is inflatable, the Malaysian slide will be a permanent feature of the waterpark, made from fibre-reinforced polymer.

The slide will also feature a cable car that carries riders to the top of the attraction so they can whiz back down again.

Sim Choo Kheng, CEO of Sim Leisure Group, which operates Escape Park in Penang, commented about the slide in a statement.

“Breaking the world record was never our intention. I’m always baffled by how rides are made so short and quick. I wanted to build rides that last a good few minutes with non-stop smiles and giggles as visitors fly through the rainforest,” Sim Choo Kheng said.

Opening alongside the world’s longest waterslide are two other new attractions, the Tubby Racer and the Hill Rider.

The opening of the new rides is expected to increase visitor numbers at Escape Park, which attracted 185,000 guests in 2018.