TAMPA - The Busch Gardens of today is a theme park of whipping roller coasters and up-close animals.

But the park of tomorrow could offer 2,000 hotel rooms and amenities converting it into a resort to rival Disney's largest hotel property.

Busch envisions building 1,200 hotel rooms in a second hotel building phase through 2010, according to a new 13-year regional development plan submitted by Busch Entertainment Corp. to city officials. Before that's completed, the entertainment company would add another Africa-themed area in the park, and golf and tennis packages.

A new $10-million ride also is in the works for 1999, the plan shows.

The additional rooms would give Tampa its first resort - one that would be comparable to Disney's new 1,900-room Coronado Springs, next to the Animal Kingdom theme park. It could attract business from companies that give top employees or customers luxury vacations as rewards, Tampa tourism marketers said.

The master plan through 2010 shows a 362-acre entertainment complex that's about 34 acres larger than the existing property.

In addition to current attractions:

A new, undetailed "major ride" will open next year....