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Dreamworld's plan to mimic US theme parks

Dreamworld could be expanded to include a hotel, retail and hospitality space like Disneyland, the amusement park's owner Ardent Leisure says.

Outgoing Ardent Leisure CEO Deborah Thomas says Dreamworld could become an entertainment precinct on the same scale as Disneyland or Universal Studios.

Speaking to ABC Radio, Ms Thomas said the theme park had looked at options such as expanding to include a hotel, retail and hospitality space.

"Anybody who has been to Universal Studios or Disneyland, you've got the theme parks and then around the theme parks you have precincts that include accommodation, retail, other entertainment facilities," she said.

The theme park occupies 35 hectares of a 60-hectare plot owned by Ardent.

There has been speculation that Ardent is considering selling the park, after the company announced it was looking at development opportunities for the site.

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But Ms Thomas said there was no plans to sell.

"What we're doing is we're looking at the surrounding land...should we have a hotel there? Could we have another theme park attraction there?" Ms Thomas mused.

She said the company would liaise with the state government about their plans for the tourist strip area.

"How do our plans fit into their plans in terms of developing the precinct," Ms Thomas said.

Dreamworld is expected to post a loss this financial year following the horror accident last October that claimed the lives of four revellers.


2 min read

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Source: AAP



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