Bahrain: A Disneyland theme park in Bahrain tops the wish list of families who took part in a survey on which attractions they would most like to see opening here.
It was conducted by the Southern Municipal Council, which now intends to approach the US Embassy for help in making the Disneyland Bahrain dream a reality.
Council chairman Ahmed Al Ansari said he hoped to agree a deal with The Walt Disney Company by the end of the year.
It follows a survey of 360 people in the Southern Governorate, which found more than 60 per cent would like to see a Disneyland on their doorstep.
The second most popular attraction in the survey was a Reef HQ Aquarium, featuring a living coral reef, while a Bahrain offshoot of Universal Studios came in at third.
“I have been to Disneyland in Orlando before with family and my children want to go there again, but I can’t afford it,” said Mr Al Ansari.
“Travelling long distances is not my preference, so why not work to bring Disneyland to Bahrain as an investment?
“The survey gives a clear indication that Disneyland has to come to Bahrain.
“We have different locations that The Walt Disney Company can choose from.
“I am willing to sit with officials from the US Embassy to negotiate, but first the US company has to see potential here.
“We are better than Hong Kong, Tokyo, Australia and Paris and we have more space available, which is close to the sea in the Southern Governorate, and Disney could be building a park under a new advanced concept.”
Other popular attractions that made it onto the list of things that people would like to see in Bahrain included Phuket Fantasea and Zoo Berlin.
Mr Al Ansari, who spearheaded the survey, unveiled details of the findings yesterday during a meeting of the Southern Municipal Council. He argued that the Southern Governorate offered a wealth of investment possibilities for international attractions and franchises, given the large amount of open space.
The area is already home to the Bahrain International Circuit, which hosts the Formula One Grand Prix, and Mr Al Ansari said it was time to push for more headline projects.
“We have huge investment plots in the Southern Governorate that are just empty,” he added.
“Despite it being 12 years since Bahrain became the first country in the region to host F1 in 2004 in Sakhir, we still have low investment in the surrounding areas – despite the availability of vast areas.
“It is not a lack of business opportunities, it is a failure to do proper marketing and making investors believe that we have what they want.
“Bahrain is in the middle of the Gulf, it has beautiful beaches and advanced infrastructure, besides ease in obtaining all required permits to do business.
“Unfortunately, what’s being promoted is the Capital Governorate – as if Manama is the only place in Bahrain.
“When I became council chairman in December 2014, I had a vision – a clear one – which would see the Southern Governorate turned into an oasis for investment.”
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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