HIT Entertainment has licensed its first The Little Big Club in Asia as part of Themed Attractions and Resorts' (TAR) multi-million pound Puteri Harbour development in Malaysia.

The UK-based children's entertainment provider is set to open a new family indoor theme park in Nusajayam, Iskandar Malaysia, which will feature five themed zones spanning more than 60,000sq ft (5,574sq m) of floor space. One of three attractions planned within a wider Puteri Harbour destination development, The Little Big Club will incorporate three floors - the third of which will be dedicated to ticketing and retail.

Based around HIT Entertainment's portfolio of children's characters, such as Pingu, Bob the Builder and Thomas and Friends, the attraction will include a range of play activities, interactive games and educational experiences designed by Forrec. HIT Entertainment's vice president of events and attractions, Teri Ruffley, said: "Asia represents more than 60 per cent of the world's population and given the strength of our brands in the region it is an important focus for HIT's strategic growth in attractions opportunities.

"The project design will be led by Forrec and the attraction will be an innovative and unique visitor offering for young families." TAR chief executive officer and managing director, Tunku Ahmad Burhanuddin, added: "Through this partnership, TAR will be able to offer a unique family experience to our visitors, particularly families travelling with children under 12.

"These families will have a common centre to spend quality time and forge closer ties while experiencing Malaysia's culture via the local food offered at the first themed restaurant by the country's most popular cartoonist, La." TAR - a wholly owned subsidiary of state investment agency Khazanah Nasional Bhd - is set to start construction work on the indoor attraction at Puteri Harbour in early 2010 and forms part of plans to open six new theme parks in Malaysia.

Image: Frank Foley, general manager for Asia at HIT Entertainment, exchanges documents with Tunku Ahmad Burhanuddin of TAR