As Lai Sun Group completes the first phase of Novotown, increased investment is earmarked for Phase 2 with more branded entertainment.
Phase 1 of the 18 billion yuan (HK$22.2 billion) has been completed. Key attractions include Lionsgate Entertainment World and a National Geographic Ultimate Explorer “edutainment” centre.
The South China Morning Post reports that the first phase cost around 5 billion yuan (HK$6.2 billion), and Lai Sun Group is ready to invest in Phase 2.
“With major construction work of Phase 1 done, the group is ready to pour in more investment on Phase 2, where an interactive football experience centre and automobile experience centre in partnership with Real Madrid football club and Porsche respectively will be located,” says Larry Leung, Novotown’s managing director.
Phase 2 will also include Harrow International China, an outpost of one of Britain’s best-known public schools.
Hengqin island in Zhuhai is being transformed into an entertainment hub which includes the Novotown development. This is part of the Greater Bay Area development project in the Pearl River Delta, featuring cultural and entertainment attractions with an ambition to become a ‘a cultural and creative incubator for Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan’.
It is anticipated that the entertainment offerings in Phase 1 alone will attract 5 million visitors a year to Hengquin after the grand opening next year.
On its website Novotown is described as is “an integrated tourism and entertainment project … that puts together state-of-the-art technology and some of the most innovative concepts … Novotown strives to serve as a regional cultural hub and an incubator for ‘Create-preneurs’ and ‘Explorers'”.
https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/business/topics/special-report-greater-bay-area/article/2147707/lai-sun-groups