Butterfly and insect sanctuary, Entopia, located on the northern part of Penang Island in Malaysia, is set to go global with plans to establish projects in eight countries over the next decade, following the signing of an exclusive franchising agreement with Turkish tourism giant DEMED Türkiye.
The partnership will see Entopia team up with DEMED Group, a major player in Türkiye’s tourism sector that manages over 180 museum stores and cafés and serves more than four million international visitors annually.
New global chapter for Entopia
For Entopia, the global expansion marks a new chapter in a 40-year legacy and a major step for the homegrown Penang brand onto the global stage. The partnership marks the first time the Penang-born brand (originally founded as the Penang Butterfly Farm in 1986) has expanded outside of Malaysia.
The signing ceremony, held at The Sphere, Entopia, was witnessed by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai.
In his address, Entopia managing director Joseph Goh said the franchising agreement targets eight countries, namely Türkiye, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt and Greece with two Entopia projects planned for each destination.
The partnership aims to bring Entopia’s philosophy of nature learning, biodiversity education, and sustainable tourism to a global audience. This partnership leverages DEMED’s tourism expertise to share Entopia’s mission of biodiversity appreciation and learning worldwide.
DEMED Group’s honorary president, Firuz Bağlıkaya, said the two companies are united by “shared values,” including a love for nature and a desire to inspire and educate. “We believe Entopia’s story has the power to reach audiences far beyond Malaysia, and we are proud to be part of this journey,” he said.
Highlights of Entopia
Entopia is known for its immersive nature learning experiences, conservation efforts, and commitment to educating visitors about biodiversity, originally established as the Penang Butterfly Farm in 1986. Within Entopia lie two worlds: The Natureland living outdoor gardens and The Cocoon indoor discovery centre.
The Natureland, which is a living garden vivarium, is a shared ecological space for a variety of animals including invertebrates and reptiles living in their re-created natural habitat. It is one of the largest butterfly gardens in Malaysia with approximately 15,000 free-flying butterflies at any one time, consisting of up to 60 species. The living garden features more than 200 species of plants with waterfalls, ponds, caves and other artistic garden features.
The Cocoon features two floors of learning exhibition and indoor activities. This indoor discovery centre is designed to let visitors self-explore the world of invertebrates through various interactive edu-stations. Besides the walk-through experience, visitors will also be guided to participate in fun hands-on learning activities.
Entopia By Night offers a fascinating blend of science, art, and nature, brought to life with biofluorescent gardens and bioluminescent exhibits that reveal the marvels of nature’s hidden light, showcasing the remarkable beauty of flora and fauna that glow under ultraviolet light, perfect for all ages.
For those seeking a truly unique dining experience, the Biofluorescent Odyssey offers visitors amidst a dazzling culinary display of biofluorescence, where every moment is a celebration of flavour and atmosphere.
Image source: Entopia website
