Vitali Klitschko is planning to develop a theme park in the Ukranian city of Kyiv / Yuriy Yurchenko / Shutterstock
Vitali Klitschko, the former three-time world heavyweight boxing champion and now mayor of Kyiv, has grand plans for the Ukranian city, seeking guidance from Europa Park’s founders – the Mack family.
Klitschko, who is a frequent visitor to the popular theme park, in Rust, Germany, recently held talks with the Macks over the possibility of a similar development in Kyiv – a city he has governed since 2014.
“I’ve been visiting Europa Park incognito with my children for years,” he says. “It’s the most interesting family theme park, offering new rides, a wide range of activities and a nice setting. It’s also got lots of activities for children to have fun and learn. My dream is to create a similar park in Kyiv and I will do my best to make that dream come true.”
During his visit, Klitschko received a tour of the attraction, being given an in-depth briefing about the park and its operations. He was also briefed on Rulantica – the new waterpark and hotel development set to open later this year.
Klitschko’s plans rely on finding a suitable investor. If realised, Hydropark – a 1.3 square kilometre island on the Dnipro River – will be developed to capitalise on the already popular recreation spot’s tourism potential.
“The recreation zone isn’t located far from the Kyiv city centre,” says Klitschko. “We’re currently seeking an investor who is ready to fund such an ambitious project and to contribute expert advice and ideas.”
The timing is good for Kyiv, which is among the fastest-growing cities in Europe, thanks to a strong portfolio of real estate and commercial developments.
In the last three years, the city has made 37 major real estate investment agreements and laid out plans to develop brownfield sites, which will result in the transformation of abandoned land into locations for contemporary architecture.
With the significant boom in construction and population – the city of three million is gaining around 200,000 new residents each year – Klitschko believes now is the right time for international investors to consider the capital for development.
“Over the past few years, Kyiv has been the largest recipient of investment in Ukraine, welcoming 60 per cent of total investment in the country and a third of all capital investment coming from overseas,” he told Business Ukraine recently.
“Anyone visiting Kyiv will see the dynamic pace of the city’s development for themselves and will quickly appreciate the investment opportunities this creates. My advice is to seize these opportunities now while they are at their most attractive.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2019 issue 2
People profile: Vitali Klitschko
With the help of Europa Park, the multi-time boxing champion turned politician dreams up theme park plan for Kyiv, Ukraine
Rides: Art Attack
We look at major ride openings at
visitor attractions across the globe
Top team: Made in China
The birthplace of William
Shakespeare will be recreated at
the home of China’s most famous
playwright. We speak to the team
behind the ambitious project
Promotional feature: Animalive - Lights, camera, action!
Animalive is a premier manufacturer of interactive animation products.
Its founder, Ali Kord, explains how its recent joint venture will
take the company’s award-winning products to the next level
Museums: Day out at the museum
The Network of European Museum
Organisations has launched a Political
Internships scheme. We speak to
the programme’s creator about what
this could mean for museums
Promotional feature: Red Raion - Building a new IP
Red Raion, the CGI studio specialised in media based attractions, has
collaborated with Unlimited Leisure Holdings to create a new 4D movie, which
will be presented at Unlimited Snow’s newest park
Show report: Global Appeal
TEA Summit and SATE Europe
Christine Kerr reports from the TEA’s
Summit, Thea Awards and SATE Europe
Interview: Pure Imagication
Adlabs Imagica is India’s largest
theme park destination. Its joint
CEO speaks to Kath Hudson
Vitali Klitschko is planning to develop a theme park in the Ukranian city of Kyiv / Yuriy Yurchenko / Shutterstock
Vitali Klitschko, the former three-time world heavyweight boxing champion and now mayor of Kyiv, has grand plans for the Ukranian city, seeking guidance from Europa Park’s founders – the Mack family.
Klitschko, who is a frequent visitor to the popular theme park, in Rust, Germany, recently held talks with the Macks over the possibility of a similar development in Kyiv – a city he has governed since 2014.
“I’ve been visiting Europa Park incognito with my children for years,” he says. “It’s the most interesting family theme park, offering new rides, a wide range of activities and a nice setting. It’s also got lots of activities for children to have fun and learn. My dream is to create a similar park in Kyiv and I will do my best to make that dream come true.”
During his visit, Klitschko received a tour of the attraction, being given an in-depth briefing about the park and its operations. He was also briefed on Rulantica – the new waterpark and hotel development set to open later this year.
Klitschko’s plans rely on finding a suitable investor. If realised, Hydropark – a 1.3 square kilometre island on the Dnipro River – will be developed to capitalise on the already popular recreation spot’s tourism potential.
“The recreation zone isn’t located far from the Kyiv city centre,” says Klitschko. “We’re currently seeking an investor who is ready to fund such an ambitious project and to contribute expert advice and ideas.”
The timing is good for Kyiv, which is among the fastest-growing cities in Europe, thanks to a strong portfolio of real estate and commercial developments.
In the last three years, the city has made 37 major real estate investment agreements and laid out plans to develop brownfield sites, which will result in the transformation of abandoned land into locations for contemporary architecture.
With the significant boom in construction and population – the city of three million is gaining around 200,000 new residents each year – Klitschko believes now is the right time for international investors to consider the capital for development.
“Over the past few years, Kyiv has been the largest recipient of investment in Ukraine, welcoming 60 per cent of total investment in the country and a third of all capital investment coming from overseas,” he told Business Ukraine recently.
“Anyone visiting Kyiv will see the dynamic pace of the city’s development for themselves and will quickly appreciate the investment opportunities this creates. My advice is to seize these opportunities now while they are at their most attractive.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2019 issue 2
People profile: Vitali Klitschko
With the help of Europa Park, the multi-time boxing champion turned politician dreams up theme park plan for Kyiv, Ukraine
Rides: Art Attack
We look at major ride openings at
visitor attractions across the globe
Top team: Made in China
The birthplace of William
Shakespeare will be recreated at
the home of China’s most famous
playwright. We speak to the team
behind the ambitious project
Promotional feature: Animalive - Lights, camera, action!
Animalive is a premier manufacturer of interactive animation products.
Its founder, Ali Kord, explains how its recent joint venture will
take the company’s award-winning products to the next level
Museums: Day out at the museum
The Network of European Museum
Organisations has launched a Political
Internships scheme. We speak to
the programme’s creator about what
this could mean for museums
Promotional feature: Red Raion - Building a new IP
Red Raion, the CGI studio specialised in media based attractions, has
collaborated with Unlimited Leisure Holdings to create a new 4D movie, which
will be presented at Unlimited Snow’s newest park
Show report: Global Appeal
TEA Summit and SATE Europe
Christine Kerr reports from the TEA’s
Summit, Thea Awards and SATE Europe
Interview: Pure Imagication
Adlabs Imagica is India’s largest
theme park destination. Its joint
CEO speaks to Kath Hudson
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
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