By Nelson Benjamin

JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA: Some 5,000 jobs are expected to be created with the establishment of the Legoland Theme Park in Iskandar Malaysia.

Iskandar Investment Bhd chairman Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar said that job opportunities would be available during various phases of the project in the next five years.

Theme parks have a proven track record of attracting a large volume of visitors.

Legoland would be Malaysia's first international theme park, he said, adding that tourism was one of nine key economic pillars under Iskandar Malaysia's comprehensive development plan.

The Lego Group started humbly in the workshop of a Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen. The word, lego, is an acronym of the Danish words 'leg' and 'godt' meaning "play well".

Legoland parks are based on the popular Lego toy construction game.

The first Legoland Park was opened in Billund, Denmark, in 1968 with three more parks in London, California and Germany.

Legoland Parks managing director John Jakobsen said Legoland Malaysia Park would be the only one to operate throughout the year, unlike the others which close for winter.

The RM750mil park, on a 930ha site in Medini Iskandar, will have more than 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions when it opens in 2013. Another Legoland is expected to open in Dubai in 2011.

Top picture: Jakobsen and Lego characters in Johor Baru yesterday.