GENTING HIGHLANDS
Genting Highlands (Malay: Tanah Tinggi Genting; Chinese: 雲頂高原; Chinese: 云顶高原), otherwise known as Resorts World Genting, is a hill resort in Malaysia developed by Genting Group. It is
nestled on a mountain peak (maximum elevation about 1,860 m) within the Titiwangsa
Mountains on the
border between the states of Pahang and Selangor of Malaysia. Resorts
World Genting is operated by Genting Malaysia Berhad (formerly known as Resorts
World Bhd), which also operates Awana chain of resorts & hotels. It is
accessible by car from Kuala Lumpur in one hour, or also
accessible by a cable car called Genting Skyway (3.38 km[1])which at
its opening used to be the world's fastest and South East Asia's
longest gondola lift.
History
The idea of creating a hill resort located in proximity to Kuala
Lumpur came up in the late Tan Sri Lim
Goh Tong's
mind during a business trip to theCameron
Highlands in 1964. He mooted this idea while enjoying the fresh and crisp
air from the balcony at his hotel room.
Subsequently, a study of the maps and Kuala Lumpur’s vicinity
located the ideal site - the 1,800-metre Gunung Ulu Kali, just 55 km from
Kuala Lumpur. Tan Sri Lim then set to transform a
remote mountain area amidst the dense virgin tropical jungle and rugged terrain
into a holiday destination.
A private company called Genting Highlands Berhad was set up on 27
April 1965, with the late Tan
Sri Haji Mohammed Noah bin Omar, Tan Sri Lim successfully obtained approval for the alienation of
12,000 acres (49 km2) and 2,800 acres (11 km2)
of land from the Pahang and Selangor State Government respectively between the
years 1965 and 1970. An anomaly happened during the obtaining of the land
approvals. While the Pahang state government swiftly approved a freehold lease,
the Selangor state reluctantly approved a 99-year lease. As a result, Tan Sri
Lim Goh Tong met the then Mentri Besar of Selangor, Dato Harun Idris and telling him that a
freehold lease will be more feasible than a 99-year lease. Finally, the
Selangor state government agreed to grant a freehold lease.
On 18 August 1965, a technical and construction team began the
herculean task that would take four years to complete the access road from
Genting Sempah to the peak of Gunung Ulu Kali.
On 31 March 1969, the late YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia’s first Prime
Minister laid the foundation stone for the company’s pioneer hotel, the then
Highlands Hotel, marking the completion of the access road to Genting Highlands
Resort. The Prime Minister was impressed that the private sector, without the
assistance of the Government, could develop a mountain resort for the enjoyment
of all Malaysians[citation needed];
subsequently a gaming licence was suggested to help accelerate the development
of this remote area.
In 1971, the first hotel at Genting Highlands was successfully
completed and was then named Highlands Hotel (now renamed Theme Park Hotel).
The Genting Highlands Resort continued to expand since the opening
of the first hotel in 1971. Development of the area continued with care taken
to ensure the maintenance of the natural beauty of the rainforest of the
region.[citation needed]
To date, Genting Highlands Resort has six hotels (namely Maxims,
Genting Hotel, Highlands Hotel, Resort Hotel, Theme Park Hotel and First World
Hotel) and two apartment blocks (Ria and Kayangan Apartments) at the hilltop
and Awana Genting Highlands Golf and Country Resort.
In 1997, Genting Highlands Resort further boosted its facility
attraction with Genting Skyway cable car system that provides a 3.38 km
transport to the hilltop. Genting Skyway is also recognised as the
"World's Fastest Mono Cable Car System" with a maximum speed of
21.6 km per hour and the "Longest Cable Car in Malaysia and Southeast
Asia".[citation needed]
Attractions
Known as the ‘Fun City Above the Cloud’, Genting Highlands is the
only legal land-based casino, Casino de Genting, in the country and is owned by
Genting Malaysia Berhad, a subsidiary of Genting Group.
Hotels
Resorts World Genting has five hotels. One of the five hotels, the
First World Hotel, holds the Guinness World of Records as the largest hotel in
the world since 2006, with a total of 6,118 rooms.
§ Resort Hotel
Dining
§ Bakery - Pastries,
sandwiches & desserts
§ Coffee Terrace - Asian
and Western buffet
§ Genting Palace
Restaurant - Cantonese cuisine
§ Hainan Kitchen -
Hainanese cuisine
§ Imperial Rama - Fine
Dining Thai-Chinese cuisine
§ Ming Ren Restaurant -
Xinjiang cuisine
§ The Olive - Fine Dining
Western cuisine
§ VIP Restaurant -
Thai-Chinese cuisine
§ Spice Garden - Indian
cuisine
Nightlife
§ Safari
§ Cloud 9
§ All Sports Bar
§ Patio Bar & Lounge
Theme Parks
Genting Theme Park
The resort has three theme parks which are Genting Outdoor Theme
Park, First World Indoor Theme Park and Water Park. There are over 20 signature
attractions which include:
§ Flying Coaster
§ Genting Sky Venture
§ Haunted House
§ SnowWorld
§ Space Shot
Genting Skyway
.JPG)
Genting Skyway (Cabin
View)
Genting
Skyway,
located at the Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor side of Genting, Malaysia, is a
monocable gondola lift serving the Genting Highlands Resort. Its lower station
is located near Gohtong Jaya, and its upper station is located at Highlands
Hotel of Genting Highlands Resort.
Amenities
The resort has five performance venues.
§ Arena of Stars
§ Genting International
Showroom
§ First World Plaza
