VILLAGE Roadshow is about to launch a new Gold Coast theme park attraction it boasts will be “one of the world’s best”.

Village Roadshow co-chairman Robert Kirby said the new attraction would allow the group to maintain its position as the “premier theme park operator”.

“We continue to invest in our theme parks, constantly refreshing our special events and attractions to ensure we maintain our premium position and give people a new reason to visit,”

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Mr Kirby told shareholders at the groups annual meeting yesterday.

media_camera Movie World. Picture: David Clark

“In the coming months, we will be announcing an exciting new attraction for the Gold Coast which we expect will be one of the world’s best theme park drawcards.”

Village, owner of Movie World, Sea World and Wet’n’Wild, said attendances are up at its Gold Coast theme parks, with FY16 first quarter admissions higher than the same time last year.

Mr Kirby said a new membership program and existing annual pass program saw solid sales in the first quarter.

The opening of Sea World’s new Creatures of the Deep exhibit and Nickelodeon Land children’s area has been well received and Sea World’s new conference centre is exceeding expectations.

Village is also committed to boosting its presence in Asia, last week entering into a memorandum of understanding to open a Wet`n’Wild in Hainan, China in late 2016 in conjunction with partner CITIC.

The first theme park project is likely to be a Hollywood branded Movie Park in Chengdu.

VRL is also in discussions with developers in Asia to roll out indoor theme parks, called Big Boxes, in major shopping centres.

James Bond and Han Solo also have Village Roadshow expecting a bumper 2016.

The group’s Australian cinema business is outperforming expectations so far this financial year, with admissions up and moviegoers spending more at the flicks.

Mr Kirby says business had been “outstanding” for the new James Bond blockbuster Spectre, with the much-anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens due for release in December.

Next year’s line-up also looks strong, with Batman vs Superman, Captain America, and Finding Dory, the sequel to the hit animated flick Finding Nemo, due to hit screens.

“We are anticipating a strong 2016 financial year in cinema exhibition,” he said.

Village Roadshow recorded its best cinema sales ever last year, helped by the success of the Imitation Game, Mad Max: Fury Road, and Jurassic World.

Premium movie-going experiences including Gold Class and Vmax, as well as more candy bar options, such as hot food, have helped draw in bigger audiences.

But while the company’s cinema business is firing, its film distribution arm, Roadshow, has had a disappointing first quarter. Roadshow’s full year result is likely to be below that of 2014/15 because of the ongoing decline in the DVD market.

To help offset that, Village is enhancing its digital options by entering into agreements with streaming services Netflix, Stan and Presto. VRL shares closed 1¢ lower at $7.21.