A1A South

SeaWorld Orlando owner Busch Entertainment Corp. announced this morning that it will build a new resort in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates city that is rapidly emerging as one of Orlando’s biggest rivals on the global tourism stage.

Busch and UAE-based developer Nakheel will together build a SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove and Aquatica water park on a man-made island in Dubai. The resort will also include hotels, spas, shops and restaurants.

Busch Entertainment President Jim Atchison made the announcement this morning during a ceremony at Shamu’s Stadium at SeaWorld.

“Dubai offers a true global stage for our brands,” Atchison said, adding that Dubai “looks a lot like Orlando” before it blossomed into perhaps the best-known family-vacation destination in the world.

Busch follows Universal Parks & Resorts, which announced last spring that it will build a resort called ” Universal Studios Dubailand.” The resort, which will be comparable in size to Universal Studios Orlando, is expected to open by 2010. Universal hopes it will ultimately draw 5 million visitors a year.

Source:  Orlando Sentinel

Well, hopefully those new vacation spots will inspire people to go on vacation instead of blowing themselves and others up.