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Will Paramount’s Bali theme park, the biggest in Southeast Asia, ever be built? Don’t hold your breath

  • From SpongeBob to Dora the Explorer, the theme park’s backers aim to tap into Paramount’s library, and boost the economy of Bali’s little-visited west coast
  • However, Indonesia and Paramount Parks have poor track records when it comes to completing this kind of project, so if it will come to pass is anyone’s guess

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An artist’s impression of the planned Bali Paramount Pictures Theme Park, which would be the biggest such attraction in Southeast Asia. Image:  Paramount

A Paramount-branded theme park and integrated resort – the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia – is planned for Bali’s little-visited west coast.

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A cooperation agreement to build the park, complete with golf courses and two themed hotels, was signed in Los Angeles in late July between American film production and distribution company Paramount Pictures and Kios Ria Kreasi, an Indonesian technology, entertainment and tourism firm.

“Paramount is a global brand that captures the imagination of everyone from children to adults,” Kios managing director Ade Sulistioputra said at the signing.

“We will tap into a library of over 1,000 films and use brands and characters that will appeal to people of all ages, while other attractions may draw on Nickelodeon’s characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

As things stand, Bali’s Jembrana Regency, where the mega park is slated for, is predominantly rural. Photo: Shutterstock
As things stand, Bali’s Jembrana Regency, where the mega park is slated for, is predominantly rural. Photo: Shutterstock
The as-yet unnamed park will be built at the halfway mark of a planned 100km (60-mile) toll road between Mengwi, in central Bali, and Gilimanuk, the terminal for ferries to Indonesia’s main island, Java.
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