Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark slated to open mid-2018

PETALING JAYA (Dec 7): The construction of the Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark, one of the largest theme parks in the world, is slated for opening in June next year.

The theme park is part of the Desaru Coast resort development in Johor that spans over 3,900 acres along a 17km beachfront in Desaru, Kota Tinggi.

Desaru Development Holdings One Sdn Bhd executive director and CEO Muhammad Zainal Ashikin Muhammad Rejab said Desaru Coast aims to become Asia-Pacific’s leading premium integrated resort and it will reach a milestone with the opening of the theme park.

“At Desaru Coast, we can present a unique leisure offering, a place for travellers from around the world to escape in a region of stunning natural beauty. Alongside our world-class golf offering, visitors can also enjoy the Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark, featuring the largest wave pool in Southeast Asia, as well as the ‘region’s first steel water coaster’,” he told EdgeProp.my.

However, he declined to reveal the development cost of the multi-phase Desaru Coast development, which also includes golf courses, hotels and resorts, retail village and a conference centre. The development has also attracted four international hotel brands to set up the Westin Desaru Coast Resort, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort and Villas, Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, and an exclusive 6-star luxury Aman Resort and Villas.

Desaru Development Holdings One is the master developer of Desaru Coast and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Desaru Development Corp Sdn Bhd, which is a subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Bhd.

Zainal noted that one of the highlights of Desaru Coast is the Els Club golf club, which comprises two golf courses — the 27-hole The Ocean Course and the 18-hole The Valley Course. The former opened in September 2016 while the latter opened in March this year.

“Since the opening of the golf courses, we have seen a surge in tourist arrivals and we are confident that this trend will continue especially with the emergence of even more exciting premium offerings at Desaru Coast,” he said.

Meanwhile, the 23-acre waterfront retail and lifestyle village Desaru Coast Riverside will feature a wide range of retail as well as F&B and entertainment offerings.

Zainal said Desaru Coast could be a major catalyst to Kota Tinggi tourism as well as create jobs and business opportunities.

He estimated that there will be around 4,000 job opportunities to be generated in the coming years, creating a huge positive knock-on effect to all areas of the local economy.

“We are looking at more comprehensive ways to engage our local community with our ‘Incubation Programme’, designed to develop entrepreneurial expertise in local businesses, both new and established,” he offered.

“The region is thriving with opportunities, far removed from the saturated property and investment environments of some of the region’s traditional markets. Our offer is enhanced by the location, perfectly situated on the southern gateway to Malaysia, with ease of access for both domestic and international travellers,” he said, adding that Desaru Coast is accessible via road (highways), air and sea.

This story first appeared in EdgeProp.my pullout on Dec 8, 2017. Download EdgeProp.my pullout here for free.