Chinese company to build ocean park in Saudi Arabia

The largest ocean theme park operator in China, Haichang Ocean Park Holdings, said on Thursday that it will build Saudi Arabia's first large ocean park, which is expected to inject new vitality into the country's tourism industry as it aspires to become a Top 10 tourist destination globally by 2030.

The company said it has previously cooperated on the development of tourism projects in Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, adding that there is no exact timetable for the start of construction in Saudi Arabia.

Haichang has been engaged in marine-themed tourism for more than two decades. Its parks, in cities including Shanghai, Dalian in Liaoning province, Zhengzhou in Henan province, and Sanya in Hainan province, attract more than 20 million tourists a year.

Saudi Arabia has welcomed Chinese group tours since the start of this month, with the country's Tourism Ministry aiming to make China its third-largest source of international tourists by 2030.

According to online travel agency Ctrip, bookings for Saudi Arabian holidays by Chinese tourists have increased nearly fourfold this month and next when compared to the same period last year.

Haichang said the project will help create job opportunities and promote Saudi Arabia as an international leisure destination by attracting more visitors from China and elsewhere.

"The recreational facilities related to the marine park operated by Haichang Ocean Park are exactly the resources that are scarce in Saudi Arabia's tourism, and the collision of 'desert and sea' creates a theme of contrast, which may bring a new highlight to the country's tourism," said Li Jun, general manager of Haichang's enterprise development department.

In April last year, Haichang and Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Investment signed a memorandum of cooperation on culture- and tourism-related investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia.

In December, Haichang signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Tourism Development Fund of Saudi Arabia to jointly develop a Haichang Ocean Park project in the country that will be a world-class, integrated ocean-themed park resort and a comprehensive tourist destination.

zhouwenting@chinadaily.com.cn