$4 billion resort and theme park for Perth?

Perth has been identified as the preferred home for a proposed $4 billion resort and theme park by a European animatronics entertainment company.

Encouraged by the Western Australian Government's push to boost WA's profile as a world-class holiday destination, Italian-based Ermes Technologies wants to attract more than two million tourists a year by building one of the biggest family resort and theme park operations in the world.

The proposed development would be similar in style to Walt Disney World and would include two theme parks, up to four hotels, two golf courses and an entertainment precinct featuring restaurants, retail shops, stage shows and discos.

Ermes Themed Entertainment Division Chief Executive Enrico Petrucci said Perth's proximity and direct flights to Asia and its growing popularity as a cruise ship destination made it an ideal resort location, stating "the resort will be a dreamland. (It will be totally self-contained to reach, to rest and have fun for two or three days (and will be a place where) people can return home with unforgettable memories and the desire to come back again.

"Of course, it would be foolish of any business to place all its eggs in one basket and if we find Perth is not interested, the second city we are looking at is Melbourne."

Petrucci said the development would be the biggest project yet for the Italian-based company's themed entertainment division, which specialised in custom-built hotels and themed attractions.

Ermes is the representative of Sally Corporation, whose attractions include Universal Studios in Los Angeles and Florida and Britain's Alton Towers.

Petrucci said a specific location and the size of the park had not been finalised.

Ermes planned to secure agreements with Australian architects for the park's design before approaching the WA Government with a formal proposal.

The company also hoped to work with the WA Academy of Performing Arts to provide hands-on training and work for students and indicates that it will open hospitality, cooking and bar service schools.

Western Australian Tourism Minister Kim Hames said it was an exciting and ambitious proposal and he would be interested to learn more.

The Ermes website makes no mention of the project.

Publishers' note: while multi-million dollar plans for major resorts and theme parks are very newsworthy, it is worth cautioning that Australia is a small market for such developments and that several plans of this type are mooted each year.