Merlin Entertainments is lining up entry into the Indian attractions market, with plans for a Madame Tussauds to open in New Delhi in early 2017, with other midway attractions such as Sea Life and Legoland Discovery Centres following in its footsteps.

Set to open during the 2017 India-UK Year of Culture, the announcement was made last week to coincide with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-day visit to the UK, where Merlin is based.

Merlin says it will be investing £50m (US$76m, €70.7m) in India over the course of the next decade, with the company’s other signature attractions coming to key cities across the country.

“We have long been considering the potential for Merlin in India with its rapidly growing economy, and are very excited to have found the ideal site for our first venture in New Delhi,” said Merlin chief executive Nick Varney.

“We already know how popular many of our brands are with the Indian community in other markets, particularly Madame Tussauds. Indeed the Bollywood figures in Madame Tussauds London are now some of the most popular in the attraction.”

The UK-India Year of Culture 2017 will include a selection of events celebrating the cultural history of both India and the UK. As part of the festivities, top British institutions, such as Merlin, will partner with their Indian counterparts in an effort to strengthen cultural and economic ties between the two nations.