A masterplan for Magic Island, a new $12million theme park in The Philippines was revealed on Sunday. The park will be inBarangay Guinhalaran, Silay City.
Third District Representative Alfredo Benitezisthe prime mover of the project. He said, "There’s magic in Negros Island and this theme park is the first step to its discovery.It’s about time that we should look in other directions and harness our resources here in the province, including good food, hardworking and productive labor force, great landscape, and rich history.”Benitezis a grand nephew of Simplicio Palanca, chairman of Aton Land and Leisure Inc., the company which is developing Magic Island.The park will besited on a 3.75-hectare plotabout 12 kilometers away from Bacolod City. The plan is that the park willopenthe summer of 2018.
At agroundbreaking ceremony on Sunday, April 2, the masterplan for the project was presented byKen Quintal of DQA Inc., a leading Philippino environmental designfirm. The park is designed to accomodate ofup to 3,000 visitors a day. The entrance fee will be P200 (compared to Enchanted Kingdom's P600).
The masterplanrevealedfacilities for rides and entertainment, educational and cultural exhibitions and programstogether withF&Bandmerchandise outlets.
15 Rides and Attractions
One of thepark's15 rides will be thetallest Ferris wheel in the Visayas (one of the Philippines' 3 main island groups).Other rides include roller coasters and thrill rides, carousels, kiddie rides and go-karts. In addition there will be a haunted house and arcade games. Artistic consultant Peque Gallagadisclosed thatMagic Islandwil be richly themed, with stories and characters based on local Negrense legends and folklore.Cesar Mario Mamon is president of The Philippines' world leading theme park, Enchanted Kingdom. He is also theFounding President of the Philippine Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. He said,“We are opening our doors to investors to learn from what we have started almost 25 years ago (in the Enchanted Kingdom, the first theme park in the country).”
Mayor Mark Golez said the development of the theme park in Silay City will contribute to investments in infrastructure, tax revenues, tourism revenues, and community support. He also highlighted that theme parks are highly importantin generating demand in the tourism business.
Magic Island, a Catalyst for Tourism
He said,“By providing gateways to heritage, both for locals and visitors, these cultural initiatives shall be accompanied by a social and economic rationale so that the entire theme park project shall be able to work for the improvement of the well-being of the people.We will undertake this project, in part with much consideration on reinforcing a sense of identity for Silay City.”Reynaldo Bantug,Aton Land presidentwill runthe P600-million ($12 million) project.He said the project will create a world class theme park forthe people of Negrenses. “We hope to develop a tourism destination that should serve as catalyst for a rapid tourism growth in the province."
Adjacent to Magic Island, a further24.25 hectares will be developed into a planned hotel, residential and commercial area. This willserve the retail and dining needs of visitors to Magic Island.
Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon said he expected Magic Island tobring hundreds of jobs to Negros. It will alsoattractthousands of tourists.
Image: RM Bulseco Flickcc
