Behind the project is the South African company SpacePort Edutainment International, which hopes to have the project open in time for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, in which Shenyang will also play a part. The capital of the Liaoning Province, the city boasts a population of 7 million, with a further 17 in a 150km radius and 1 million annual tourists.

Comprising rides, attractions and educational exhibits, the six zone 20-hectare park will also feature a major 4D and simulation component, developed in association with South African-based special effect companies will be backed up with a major ‘edutainment’ internet portal.

SpacePort Shenyang will be the first of several planned SpacePort venues worldwide, the next in Africa at the big Africa Theme Park Resort being develop near Johannesburg. Another will be SpacePort Moscow. In total five projects are planned, backed up with significant space-based ‘edutainment’ internet portal. Franchisees are sought for future sites.

The creative development of the SpacePort concept is being handled by Dutchman Hans Deuze, whose previous credits include ITEC Entertainment Disneyland Resort Paris. He will serve as senior vice-president of development and operations for SpacePort Edutainment. BRC Imagination Arts, of Burbank, California, is to generate the SpacePort Shenyang masterplan.

Following the successful conclusions drawn by the KPMG study, SpacePort Edutainment has embarked on an investor road show as its seeks to find the required funding.

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