Village Roadshow forming Chinese JV to power Asia expansion
Australian theme park operator Village Roadshow has inked a pact with Chinese investment firm CITIC to form a joint venture to invest in theme park projects in Asia.
CITIC and Village Roadshow will start up an initial fund of $US500 million and have already identified projects in Chengdu, China Johor Bahru in Malaysia and South Korea.
Village Roadshow co-chief executive Robert Kirby said the joint venture partnership with CITIC will aid the company’s theme park expansion plans in China and Southeast Asia.
“With this major building block in place we are in a position to progress our expansion plans with even greater certainty, control and confidence, aided by CITIC,” Kirby said.
“We have had long discussions on a whole range of sites throughout China, and in fact throughout Asia, so we have a large radar screen of opportunities that we have been working on,” he added.
CITIC will take the lead in raising funds through third-party investors, while Village will be responsible for development and operation of the theme parks.
“Village Roadshow has expertise that is both unique and proven in designing, building, operating and promoting theme parks,” said fellow co-chief executive of Village Roadshow Graham Burke.
Village Roadshow operates Wet’n’Wild theme parks, cinemas and media businesses and may also build a theme park in China based on its Movie World park located on the Gold Coast.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season