US$7.1bn Northern Marianas resort development could feature world's largest waterpark
The world’s largest waterpark has been proposed as part of a US$7.1bn (€6.4bn, £4.6bn) resort development on the US territory of Northern Marianas near Guam.
Hong Kong-based Best Sunshine International (BSI) is behind the plans, which will also feature 20 hotels, an integrated casino resort and a kilometre-long shopping strip. According to BSI, the company is eyeing public land currently leased to the Marina Resort and Spa that will expire in 2018.
At present, the BSI resort is in phase one of development, which includes the US$190m (€172.1m, £124.1m) Grand Mariana Resort in Saipan, with the waterpark project coming in at phase two along with an 18-hole golf course. The 1.52sq km (375 acres) development will be completed over a period of 12 years, with the plans rolled out in three phases.
Northern Marianas’ Department of Public Lands (DPL) issued a request for proposals to create a masterplan for the project earlier in the year, with a deadline of 28 July. The DPL, which is responsible for the administration, management, use, leasing, development and disposition of all public lands in Northern Marianas is yet to announce its chosen contractors and architects for the plans.