Hong Kong is set to welcome a new water park in July 2018, almost two decades after a previous one was closed.

Blueprint for the new water park. Photo: Ocean Park.

A ceremony to mark the beginning of the construction of Tai Shue Wan Water World was held at Ocean Park on Thursday.

The proposed entrance of the park. Photo: Ocean Park.

Ocean Park Chairman Leo Kung Lin-cheng said that the new water park will be able to host 1.5 million visitors a year, reports Commercial Radio.

Allan Zeman said he wants to make the water park the best in the world. Photo: Ocean Park.

Kung said he is not worried about competition from Shanghai Disneyland, which is set to open next year. Kung also said Hong Kong needs to do more to attract tourists.

The Tai Shue Wan water park will be the first in southeast Asia situated by the sea. Photo: Ocean Park.

The park was originally expected to be finished in 2017 but construction has been delayed as adjustments were made to the design earlier this year.

Blueprint for the new water park. Photo: Ocean Park.

The Tai Shue Wan Water World will be the first water park built next to the sea in southeast Asia, Apple Daily reports.

The park will be located in Tai Shue Wan. Photo: Ocean Park.

It will feature multiple outdoor and indoor swimming pools as well as water slides and a sea turtle exhibit area, according to a government planning document.

Hong Kong’s first water park was built in the 1980s and closed in 1999.