PUTRAJAYA’s District 21 adventure theme park in IOI City Mall was awarded five Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) titles in the presence of finalists of Miss Tourism Queen International 2015.
The ceremony saw five different rides in District 21 being awarded MBR titles – the First Indoor Pump Track in Malaysia, First Indoor Rope Course for Children in Malaysia, First Indoor High-Rope Course in Malaysia, First Indoor Roller Glider in Malaysia and First Indoor Maze in Malaysia.
IOI Properties Group Berhad’s Property Investments chief operating officer Cheah Wing Choong said shopping malls have to be innovative and District 21 has successfully managed to attract customers.
Cheah also said the rides in the 70,000sq ft theme park were suitable for children, teenagers and adults alike.
“We get some 400 to 500 visitors a day and we even had 1,000 visitors on a peak day once.
“The crowd is bigger during the school holidays,” he added.
The theme park also caters to corporate companies looking to use the place for team-building activities as well.
He said it was great to get the Miss Tourism Queen International contestants, who are ambassadors of their countries, to visit District 21 and hoped the MBR titles would attract more international and local tourists.
MBR founder Tan Sri Danny Ooi said they aimed to award the titles to new and interesting ideas as a way to encourage innovators and inspire others as well.
“When we first got the application, we realised it was unique and the first of its kind in the country,” said Ooi, who is also president of the Miss Tourism Queen International.
He said the event gave the participants an idea of the various things Malaysia has to offer, especially since it was the first visit for many of them.
Ooi said he hoped some would actually come back to see what Malaysia has to offer after the pageant.
He said events like this helped promote tourism and for this reason, the pageant has been receiving the endorsement of Tourism Malaysia since 1993.
“The main thing about the pageant is to promote tourism, culture and friendship.
“We tell them to forget about the crown and get to know their fellow finalists,” he added.
His message was welcomed, especially by Denmark representative, Natacha Adler Stromskov, 18.
“It is wonderful that the president told us not to think about the crown but to see and learn and meet the people. It means a lot to us,” she added.
Stromskov and her fellow participants were given a chance to try out several activities at the adventure park and were impressed by the facilities.
She said it was great that the games motivated the participants and it was a good way to indulge in a healthy activity as compared to playing video and computer games.
Her roommate, Kristen Martin, 18, from South Africa, said she felt having a theme park inside a mall was a really good idea, especially for families.
A total of 60 countries have sent their contestants to participate in the competition that was initiated in 1993.
The finale will be held at the Putrajaya Marriott Hotel and Spa on Dec 31; the only world pageant to be held on New Year’s Eve.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
