(TH) theme parks and safari world in Thailand

[Guest guest]

Bangkok Post

 

Business >> Saturday March 01, 2008

 

 

TOURISM / THEME PARKS

 

Safari World wants government subsidy

PITSINEE JITPLEECHEEP

 

Safari World Plc, one of the country's biggest theme parks, is ready

to dust off its plan to develop a new safari park worth 10 billion

baht in Prachin Buri if it can get government financial help.

President Pin Kewkacha said the government should support theme parks

to promote the tourism industry.

 

''Thailand should follow China by providing subsidies to help private

operators develop new tourist attractions such as theme parks or

tourism cities. This will increase the country's tourism

competitiveness as well,'' he said yesterday.

 

The government should either provide long-term, low-interest loans or

jointly invest in a pilot tourism project with private investors.

 

If the government granted its assistance, Mr Pin said, Safari World

was willing to develop an all-in-one tourism city that would be

highlighted with Thai history, culture, amusement parks and the best

products from each province so tourists could get to know and

understand Thailand better when they visited.

 

 

Thailand should follow China by providing subsidies to help private

operators, says Mr Pin.

 

 

Safari World, which faces delisting from the Stock Exchange of

Thailand, plans to spend 10 billion baht developing a park on 10,000

rai in Prachin Buri. It would be redesigned into a big Thai-style

tourism city as big as Disneyland.

 

''We have promoted Thailand among foreign tourists but when they come,

we have nothing new or attractive for them to visit. If the situation

will continue to be like this, Thailand will lose its attractiveness

compared to other countries in Southeast Asia,'' Mr Pin said.

 

Thailand should initiate new tourism concepts to attract tourists, as

temples and floating markets were not enough to attract tourists, he

said.

 

Safari World has debts totalling 20 billion baht, which it hopes to

clear in five years. The ailing company may consider increasing its

capital to raise more funds soon.

 

Ten Chinese amusement parks had asked Safari World to manage and

co-invest in their projects, Mr Pin said. Talks are under way.

[Guest guest]

Mister Pin must be kidding. Why should a government support a project of

someone that is losing money big time on his first project? So he can set up

another money losing enterprise with government (read the people's) money?

Why should a government support a company that was caught smuggling hundreds

of endangered wild animals, of which almost a hundred orang-utans?

 

Edwin Wiek

WFFT Thailand

www.wfft.org

 

_____

 

aapn [aapn ] On Behalf Of

yitzeling

Monday, 03 March, 2008 8:57 AM

aapn ; animal_net

(TH) theme parks and safari world in Thailand

 

 

 

Bangkok Post

 

Business >> Saturday March 01, 2008

 

TOURISM / THEME PARKS

 

Safari World wants government subsidy

PITSINEE JITPLEECHEEP

 

Safari World Plc, one of the country's biggest theme parks, is ready

to dust off its plan to develop a new safari park worth 10 billion

baht in Prachin Buri if it can get government financial help.

President Pin Kewkacha said the government should support theme parks

to promote the tourism industry.

 

''Thailand should follow China by providing subsidies to help private

operators develop new tourist attractions such as theme parks or

tourism cities. This will increase the country's tourism

competitiveness as well,'' he said yesterday.

 

The government should either provide long-term, low-interest loans or

jointly invest in a pilot tourism project with private investors.

 

If the government granted its assistance, Mr Pin said, Safari World

was willing to develop an all-in-one tourism city that would be

highlighted with Thai history, culture, amusement parks and the best

products from each province so tourists could get to know and

understand Thailand better when they visited.

 

Thailand should follow China by providing subsidies to help private

operators, says Mr Pin.

 

Safari World, which faces delisting from the Stock Exchange of

Thailand, plans to spend 10 billion baht developing a park on 10,000

rai in Prachin Buri. It would be redesigned into a big Thai-style

tourism city as big as Disneyland.

 

''We have promoted Thailand among foreign tourists but when they come,

we have nothing new or attractive for them to visit. If the situation

will continue to be like this, Thailand will lose its attractiveness

compared to other countries in Southeast Asia,'' Mr Pin said.

 

Thailand should initiate new tourism concepts to attract tourists, as

temples and floating markets were not enough to attract tourists, he

said.

 

Safari World has debts totalling 20 billion baht, which it hopes to

clear in five years. The ailing company may consider increasing its

capital to raise more funds soon.

 

Ten Chinese amusement parks had asked Safari World to manage and

co-invest in their projects, Mr Pin said. Talks are under way.

 

 

 

 

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