Meritus Hotels & Resorts signed an agreement on 3 April 2013 with Funtasy Island Development (FID) Pte Ltd to manage the upcoming accommodation facilities at Funtasy Island on Indonesia’s Riau Islands.
Due to open in 2014, Funtasy Island is positioned to be the largest eco theme park and first gated island community in the world. A 20-minute ferry ride from Singapore’s Harbourfront ferry terminal, it will soon be another vacation destination for families.
Funtasy Island, two-thirds the size of Sentosa, will house hotel suites and villas complementing retail, convention, dining and recreational facilities.
Nature lovers can look forward to natural island-living and eco-themed activities such as aquaculture tours in the surrounding waters and nature trails on the islands, 70% of which is being preserved as a nature sanctuary.
Spread over the 810 acres of six islets between Batam and Singapore, Funtasy Island will also be home to a Water World Park, the Fido Dido Sport Club which will offer adventure and sea sports activities even to non-hotel residents, a Love Island for island weddings, as well as shopping, dining and entertainment facilities at the Wave Promenade.
Meritus will run the deluxe resort development with a 200-room condotel, a 230-suite hotel and 413 villas.
Mr Michael Yong, FID Managing Director, said that this landmark development is their first response to the growing demand for eco-tourism, as well as the fulfillment of their own vision of the largest eco theme park in the world. He said, “from a strategic standpoint, tapping the hospitality expertise of Meritus certainly enhances the potential of Funtasy Island to carve a formidable niche as an eco-resort destination of global standing.”
Development of the S$900 million island began in 2010. Direct ferry services will be available from HarbourFront ferry terminal after 2013.
