Cartoon Network backs theme park

BANGKOK, 24 May 2012: More than Bt1 billion will be invested in the first ever Cartoon Network AMAZONE project sited at Bang Saray, Pattaya and due to open in 2013.

Cartoon Network AMAZONE is a theme water park  involving Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific and Amazon Falls Co Ltd, a resort developer in Thailand.

Covering 35 rai, the Cartoon Network AMAZONE is an upgraded version of the Amazon Falls Water Theme Park that was under development at the site for the past two years and was due to open in 2010.

Cartoon Network AMAZONE is now scheduled to open in 2013. Set in an Amazon Rainforest environment, it will fuse the popular animated series heroes  Ben 10, The Powerpuff Girls, Johnny Bravo and The Amazing World of Gumball.

It features attractions such as a gigantic family wave pool, a winding adventure river, speed-racing slides, family raft rides and interactive water play fortresses for kids.

Cartoon Network AMAZONE should attract up to 800,000 visitors a year when fully open according to the developer.

At a press briefing yesterday, the Thailand’s Board of Investment’s Investment Services Centre executive director, Varaporn Choeysa-ard, said the theme water park will add value to Thailand’s tourism products through a link to an international TV channel network.

“The substantial investment in the first phrase of Cartoon Network AMAZONE is already creating hundreds of jobs will help to cement Thailand’s standing as a world-class tourism investment destination.”

Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Eastern Region director, Borisut Prasopzup, said the project will open a new entertainment dimension for Pattaya.

“The park will help us to compete with others particularly neigbouring countries as they tend to create more man-made attractions and draw more foreign investors.”

He added: “With more than 20 million tourist arrivals this year, we believe the opening of the park will also encourage domestic market, which is estimated at 5 million to Pattaya alone.”

Amazon Falls Co Ltd chief executive officer, Liakat Dhanji said: “We are building the park to target the  family market with Thais as the  priority.”

Developed in two phases the project will eventually have its own hotels.

Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific Entertainment Network senior vice president and managing director, Sunny Saha, said: “Cartoon Network is all about the fun and energy of the playground, and the addition of Cartoon Network AMAZONE means that families can literally step into a world of animation and vacation with their favourite characters like never before.”

Cartoon Network AMAZONE will be located at Bang Saray that was once a small quiet fishing village some is 15 km south of Pattaya, but is now a prime area for luxury holiday homes and apartments.

In Thailand there are two large water parks: the old Siam Park in Bangkok and Splash Jungle Splash in Phuket on Mai Khao Beach that opened early 2010.