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Operator Profile
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the Tourism College of Jinan University and Tourism
Research Institute, from where OCT has shared and
nurtured much of its industry expertise.
Like a number of Chinese organisations, the OCT
Group is state-owned but operates as a commercial
enterprise. Mr Ren’s father, Ren Zhongyi, was
instrumental in bringing about China’s cultural reforms
and it’s clear that “Ren Junior” relishes the
opportunities that this has presented to him.
A trained economist and senior advisor to the
Guangdong government, he’s nevertheless an
unassuming character who presides over a group with
wide ranging interests. If you’ve ever watched TV in
China, there’s a good chance you were watching it on
a set manufactured by Konka, the country’s largest
manufacturer of televisions, and an OCT subsidiary.
But this side of the business is perhaps less evident to
the casual visitor than the real estate development that
springs up around each new OCT park. This isn’t
opportunism by local landowners, but a concerted
effort by OCT to capitalise itself on the value created experimental new concept on the outskirts of the city Window of the World is part of the
by its parks and attractions. That’s why the land it buys featuring an eco tourism theme, and plans are already original Overseas Chinese Town
is always greater than the parks or attractions it is underway for Happy Harbor, a new development built resort in Shenzhen
intending to build. around a swamp close to downtown Shenzhen.
Not only is Guandong China’s richest province, but
Rollercoasters & Real Esate the surrounding Pearl River Delta is also the nation’s
“The theme parks can improve the value of our real most competitive leisure market, home to major theme
estate and the people living and working in the real parks including Ocean Park, Hong Kong Disneyland
estate can provide an audience for our parks,” notes and Chimelong.
Yao Jun, president of OCT Tourism. This explains OCT’s intense activity in the area. “We
It’s a tactic employed across China, but OCT has are doing these projects to secure our leading place in
got it down to an art and, unlike some developers, it is the tourism industry,” confirms Ren. “If we don’t do it
serious about the amusement industry too. Tourism is someone else will. Once we are the best in this area,
one of the group’s main businesses, and the tool it uses we are the best in China.”
to its exert greatest social and cultural influence. When Splendid China and Window of the World
Shenzhen will remain key to OCT Tourism’s growth (WOTW) took off in the early ‘90s, OCT was OCT Tourism president Yao Jun
plans. Last year the group opened OCT East, an convinced that this was the future. It built another (left) and vice-president Gao Jun
OCT parks and resorts
parks and themed areas including Knight Valley
(eco tourism), Tea Stream Valley (vacation tourism),
Wind Valley (sports tourism) and the Guanyin Lotus
Splendid China/Folk Culture Village capital. A second undercover attraction is due to be area (religious tourism).
The largest park of its kind in the country, Splendid built alongside the main park in the future.
China in Shenzhen is a miniature representation of OCT Taizhou Resort
the China’s breathtaking 9.6 million km
2
Happy Valley Chengdu Covering 200-hectares of Qinhu National Wetland,
landscape. The Folk Culture Village, meanwhile, Due for soft opening at the end of the year, this 47- this new eco-park concept will open April 2009. An
celebrates Chinese folk arts, customs and features hectare park in the Sichuan Province will be the integrated hot spring hotel is expected to set a new
1:1 scale replica homes of various styles. A total of largest, most modern and ecological theme park in standard for high-end hotels in central Jiangsu
24 villages are included, representing 26 different Southeast China. Province.
ethnic groups.
Happy Valley Shanghai OCT Yunnan Resort
Window of the World Scheduled to open July 2009, this 90-hectare Still in planning, OCT intends to create a new
With outlets in Shenzhen and Changsha, Hunan attraction will be the largest Happy Valley to date. sightseeing, entertainment and holiday resort in this
Province, Window of the World features replicas of The park will be located in the Sheshan resort area, major tourist region.
iconic statues and buildings from around the world. Songjiang District.
Three Gorges Dam Scenery Spot
Happy Valley Shenzhen Happy Harbor Close to the Yangtze River’s famous hydro-electric
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2008, the A new waterside destination opening 2010 close to power station, the Three Gorges Dam Scenery Spot
original Happy Valley park is the most popular downtown Shenzhen comprising “eco wetlands and attracts 1.2 million visitors a year.
amusement park in mainland China, attracting urban leisure.” Free of fencing, it will also offer free
around 3.2 million guests a year. admission.
Happy Valley Beijing OCT East Resort
Happy Valley Beijing provides a highly-themed Set in breathtaking surroundings just outside
environment close to the centre of the Chinese Shenzhen, OCT East comprises four interlinked
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