Chandigarh mulls ‘Disneyland’ park near Sarangpur

The UT Administration has planned to transform the city into a tourist hotspot by developing a theme-based entertainment park similar to Disneyland. The park will be located on 40 acres near Sarangpur on the city outskirts.

An official said a presentation on the project was recently made to the Union Tourism Minister during a meeting of northern states held in the city. Once approved by the ministry, the park will be developed under the public private partnership (PPP) model.

The ministry had appointed a consultant to implement the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme in Chandigarh. This scheme is aimed at enhancing the city appeal as a destination by focusing on destination-centric approach.

The consultant's inception report assesses the city's potential as an entertainment and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination. It outlines plans for integrating entertainment infrastructure, including a theme park, virtual reality experiences, gaming zones and live entertainment venues to meet tourists' leisure and entertainment needs.

The report also envisions a state-of-the-art convention centre to boost MICE facilities, featuring modern amenities to host large-scale conferences, exhibitions and corporate events, positioning the city as a prime MICE destination.

Three case studies were highlighted in the report:

Disneyland of California: Showcases advanced technologies such as animatronics and augmented reality for immersive experiences.

Marina Bay Sands of Singapore: Combines a convention centre, luxury hotel and entertainment facilities with digital concierge services.

Tokyo Disneyland: Utilises projection mapping, augmented reality and virtual reality.

Consultant report

The report of a consultant hired by the Tourism Ministry assesses the city's potential as an entertainment and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) destination. It emphasises incorporating technology to enhance visitor experiences. Proposed features include augmented reality tours, interactive displays and mobile apps for personalised recommendations.