PW NOV08 P48-52.qxd:PW NOV08 P48-52.qxd 4/11/08 09:27 Page 48
Operator Profile
China’s largest park operator
seeks international recognition
OCT
The OCT Group is the operator of mainland Yet as we sit down to talk to Mr Ren in the OCT-
China’s most popular theme park, part of a owned Intercontinental Hotel opposite the group’s
growing chain that will soon take in the cities of Shenzhen headquarters, it feels as though the world has
Shenzhen, Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai. But already come to this little corner of China. Refurbished
Happy Valley is only part of the story. Keen to in 1995, the hotel is underpinned by a Spanish theme
keep one step ahead, OCT is developing a that extends throughout the plush 5-star surroundings.
number of new tourism concepts that it believes Down the road, guests can glimpse through the
will keep it number one with Chinese guests. Park Window of the World, one of the original OCT theme
World editor Owen Ralph is granted an exclusive parks, still entertaining 3 million guests a year with its
audience with senior OCT officials ahead of their mix of replica international landmarks, festivals and
participation in this month’s IAAPA Attractions cultural entertainment.
Expo in Orlando The OCT name comes from Overseas Chinese
Town, the 4.8 square kilometre site in Shenzhen’s
E
ntertaining around 20 million guests last year at Nanshan district that is home not just to Window of the
its 10 parks, resorts and attractions, OCT has World and Happy Valley but also Splendid China, a
only begin to tap the potential of China’s miniature representation of the country’s 5,000 years of
burgeoning leisure and entertainment market. But by history and vast landscape.
taking the lead early on the group is well poised to
consolidate its position as the nation’s largest Splendid Start
amusement operator. Opened in 1989, Splendid China was the first park
“China is a huge market,” highlights Ren Kelei, developed by OCT and gave birth to countless copycat
OCT’s president and CEO. “There are over 30 projects across the country. Their appeal was simple:
provinces and that presents great opportunities for the “Around this time Chinese people did not travel,” notes
tourism industry. The growth of parks is linked to the Ren, “but they wanted to understand their own culture.”
growth of the cities. We hope to attract 30 million Inspired by miniature parks in Holland, OCT decided to
guests a year by 2018, and I believe we can achieve take it to them. Two years later the Folk Culture Village
that.” opened as part of the same attraction in Shenzhen,
“We want to become the number one attraction designed to showcase 26 of China’s ethnic groups.
brand in Asia,” he continues. Indonesia, Vietnam and Now recognised as a 5 “A” national tourism resort,
Dubai are highlighted as possible markets for Overseas Chinese Town was China’s first theme park
expansion, but right now there is plenty more business cluster. Located in the Guangdong Province, the site
OCT president and CEO Ren Kelei to capture at home. also incorporates several hotels and art galleries, plus
48 NOVEMBER 2008
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78