Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Bahrain’s new water theme park has attracted a staggering 35,000 visitors in its first six weeks.
Operators of the Lost Paradise of Dilmun in Sakhir are thrilled by the wave of enthusiasm generated for the fun destination.
The visitor count for the three-day Eid holidays alone reached 8,000. “The response has been better than we anticipated,” said Paul Blunt, general manager of the Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park.
“We’ve been working seven-days-a-week and round-the-clock. Being new to the region, I was quite unsure of the reaction during Ramadan and whether the timings would suit everyone but it went really well. Our sales manager Mohamed Ali said it would be a great season but I was still very sceptical. Quite clearly I was wrong and he was right!”
The park introduced special Eid offers and competitions which proved a big hit with families in the kingdom.
“The response has blown us away,” added Mr Blunt.
The operators are learning all the time and already improvements are being made to the food and beverage section. The park has set up two more outlets to meet demand in addition to two golf buggies carrying snacks and refreshments for visitors across the park.
The operators have also created more shaded areas and introduced a special “misting effect” in the park to add to the mystical atmosphere.
The signage across the park has also been completed with maps at certain spots for visitors to find their way around with ease.
The retail outlet has also been updated throughout Ramadan and the souvenir shop now has a lot more to offer with new merchandise to meet the growing demand for mementoes.
The park’s season runs until November but may vary according to favourable climatic conditions and demand from visitors.
Mr Blunt said the response from locals and expats has been largely positive since the opening in contrast to scepticism voiced during the construction stage.
“The reaction has changed now,” he said. “Everyone’s coming up to us and saying how thrilled they are that the park has worked out so well.
“They thanked us for the project and Gulf Finance House for its vision. Park surveys are also being carried out to monitor visitor opinion.
“We have also been keeping track of every letter in the Press as well as the ones we have been getting here. Each one is looked at and responded to.
“We want to know what our guests like and what they want to see in the future.”
