A retail theme park concept is set to open in Thailand in the holiday district of Cha-am, two hours’ drive from Bangkok.
The Santorini Park Cha-am will open on March 24, a 500 million baht (US$16 million) tourist attraction aimed to boost the district’s organised retail sector.
It’s a concept developed by garment retailer and manufacturer Pena House Group and will be opened near to Pena House’s Premium Outlet Mall on Phetkasem Rd.
The design of the park is inspired by Santorini, the island in the Southern Aegean Sea, southeast of mainland Greece. It will be a home to a 40 metre tall ferris wheel, a G-Max reverse bungee, double-decker carousel and restaurants.
There will be about 6000 sqm of retail space for 140 tenants, of which about 60 per cent is currently leased. Enough parking will be built for 1500 cars.
The Santorini Park also features a 3000 sqm activity zone area designed to hold concerts and activities with a capacity of 2000 people seated and 5000 people standing.
According to Pena House Group MD Nasvera Tantichirasakul, Cha-am is a potential market for Santorini Park as it is a popular tourist destination. It also targets the 4 million tourists that flock to Hua Hin, a famous beach resort town in Thailand, every year, which is just 25km north of Cha-am.
Pena House expects Santorini Park to break even within six years. It will be marketed under the tag line ‘Amused Shopping Experience’.
Pena House Group plans to develop a second phase once Santorini Park becomes successful. The company also plans to open a seventh outlet mall to be located in Bang Pa-in, Ayutthaya next month.
GB
