Tropical Islands / Germany: 2,000 Holiday Homes to be Built

Over the next five years, a giant holiday resort is to be built near Brand, 60 kilometres south of Berlin. The starting shot for the construction of 2,000 holiday homes around the Tropical Islands bathing paradise, which will boast somewhere between 12,000 and 14,000 beds, was fired at the end of August when contracts were signed between Tanjong PLC, Tropical Islands, the Danish construction firm and investor Eske Group A/S, and Europe's largest holiday home provider, NOVASOL. The Scandinavian-style holiday houses are the ideal all-weather holiday destination. They will be built in a wooded area on natural plots that are 400 to 800 square metres large. The first holiday homes will be ready for habitation by April 2010. According to Ole Bested Hensing, the managing director of Tropical Islands, the investment will attract large numbers of new visitors to the tropical paradise and give a much-needed economic boost to the region. Once the resort is completed, Bested Hensing expects that up 250 additional job positions will be created.  According to Eske's managing director, Michael Eskildsen, the investment total will amount to some 650 million euros. (eap)