The first Timbalaya outdoor natural play attraction will open in late 2019/early 2020 in Kuwait as a result of a £4 million (U$5.4m) deal with Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC).

Work is expected to begin in 2018 to build a mid-size attraction based around the Timbalaya story and IP developed by its UK-based team. Meanwhile conversations with several potential sites in Europe are said to be quite far advanced and another announcement is expected in the coming weeks/months.

From left to right: Timbalaya’s Nick Farmer and Sylvia Matiko (left and first right) with TEC assistant CEO Ghazi Alhajeri (second left) and TEC CEO Abdulwahab A Al-Marzouq

“We have had several groups interested in building a Timbalaya attraction, but TEC have just moved faster and as a result Kuwait will be the first to enjoy this incredible experience,” reports ‘Guardian of the Locket’, Sylvia Matiko.

All about adventure, play and imagination, Timbalaya is a children’s adventure story based around the magical village of Wishing. Children are encouraged to get physically active and indulge in imaginative play as they follow the escapades of characters such as Buzzbirds, the Borroble Bear and Spangle Stargazer. Features from the Timbalaya book, written by Georgina Parfitt and illustrated by Louise Prentice, will be brought to life in each Timbalaya attraction. There will also be kinetic structures, riddles, games, water play, parades and performances.

“There’s no cookie cutter approach to Timbalaya” says ‘Guardian of the Stargazers’ Nick Farmer. “The Kuwait attraction will without doubt be different to the designs being considered in Europe. The landscape is a unique mix of desert, palm trees and arid region greenery, and of course Kuwait enjoys almost 500km of coastline along the Arabian Gulf, which gives it a very particular feel.”

Alongside Farmer and Matiko, the other key Timbalaya partners are outdoor play specialist Simon Egan and marketer Rosalind Johnson. Established in 1976, TEC is the chief authority responsible for the regulation, development, and promotion of the tourism, entertainment and recreation sectors in Kuwait.