Luge development opens

An aerial view showing the top terminal of Skyline Enterprises Ltd's newest development, the $20...
An aerial view showing the top terminal of Skyline Enterprises Ltd's newest development, the $20 million Skyline Luge Tongyeong, in South Korea, which opened to the public last Friday. PHOTO: SKYLINE ENTERPRISES LTD
A Queenstown  tourism company has opened its $20million development in South Korea, just 15 months after construction began.

Skyline Luge Tongyeong opened to the public on February 10, and subzero temperatures failed to deter customers.

Thousands turned out for the opening weekend, and videos shared by travel broadcasters Dingo Travel and Travel Factory were viewed by 630,000 and 615,000 people respectively within the first 24 hours.

Skyline Enterprises Ltd's new complex features up to six tracks, a detachable five-seater chairlift and two terminals and is located directly below the coastal city's Hallyeosudo Landscape Cable Car, which attracts more than one million visitors a year.

The luge project is believed to be the largest direct capital investment in South Korea by a New Zealand company.

Skyline Enterprises executive chairman Mark Quickfall said the company was thrilled to be able to share the Skyline luge concept with the people of Tongyeong and South Korea.

``This has been a very rewarding project, with many positive relationships formed with South Korea and Tongyeong City.

``We employ 50 people at Skyline Luge Tongyeong, with a further 50 employees expected, and we are delighted that this level of investment has been so well received by South Korea since early planning days.''

Throughout the process, officials from South Korea travelled to New Zealand to visit luge operations at Skyline Queenstown and Skyline Rotorua.

NZ Trade and Enterprise had also been involved.

``For the first six days Skyline Luge Tongyeong has operated well ahead of our estimates, which bodes extremely well for the future of our new operation,'' Mr Quickfall said.

Skyline Luge Tongyeong contains the world's second-longest track, at 1.5km. One of the planned six tracks has been completed; the remaining five are to be finished as demand requires.

An official opening with dignitaries and local and national government officials will take place in April.

Skyline International Luge general manager Neville Nicholson managed the construction phase of the project, living in the domestic tourism hot spot during the process.

Queenstown's James Dudfield has been appointed Skyline Luge Tongyeong general manager and has managed sites at Tremblant and Calgary.

Skyline has been operating the luge for more than 30 years in New Zealand.

Skyline Luge Tongyeong is the company's sixth such operation. It has other sites in New Zealand, Canada and Singapore.

tracey.roxburgh@odt.co.nz

 

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