After Dubai’s Global Village, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi or Europa Park Rust in Germany, the Dutch firm VEKOMA Rides Manufacturing (VKM) will export its expertise in Côte d’Ivoire with the construction of attraction of Abidjan.
The project was the subject of an agreement between the Ivorian Ministry of Tourism and the company VKM, led by its Vice President Peter Van Bilsen, the 2 last February in the Ivorian economic capital.
Identified in a McKinsey study as one of 9’s major projects to make Côte d’Ivoire a land of choice for tourism, infrastructure, which will be built on an area of 30 hectares along the seaside linking Abidjan in Grand Bassam, will be one of the most prestigious park on the continent and the largest in West Africa. Hence the choice of VKM which is in the top 5 world in its field.
The first phase of the project, which consists of manufacturing the equipment, transporting it to Côte d’Ivoire, installing it and training the personnel on site, will be done within 6 months for an investment of 20 billion FCFA, ie 30,5 millions of euros.
In a second phase of development, the park will host the construction of two 4 and 3 star hotels of the Kyriad and Golden Tulip brands that will welcome tourists
According to the promoters, the facilities will include, in addition to traditional attractions, a balneotherapy center; all with themes highlighting local products, aquatic wildlife and Ivorian agriculture among others.
This first phase will also finalize the insurance and maintenance contracts; and just like the initial project, the expertise at this level was solicited through a partnership with a large legal group for the establishment of contracts.
For the Ivorian Minister of Tourism, Siandou Fofana, the park is participating in the vision to make tourism the third pillar of the economy economy in the next few years. This project, generating jobs and value will, in terms of positioning, Côte d’Ivoire to succeed its tourism and to occupy one of the 3 first places in terms of leisure tourism in Africa.
In addition to VEKOMA Rides Manufacturing, the architecture firm MZ Architecs (which designed and manages the emblematic Abuar Headquarter skyscraper in Abu Dhabi) is also involved in the project.
