Special Report: First Cartoon Network water park in Thailand expected to boost eastern tourism

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The world’s first Cartoon Network-themed water park is being built in Bang Saray bay in Chonburi province and is expected to be open to the public by early next year. 

Turner Broadcasting System Inc (TBS), the parent company of Cartoon Network, is building a large-scale water theme park in partnership with the Board of Investment and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The park, themed under Cartoon Network Amazone, will be modeled after the Amazon rainforest, featuring live shows from well-known characters such as Power Puff Girls, Ben 10 and Johnny Bravo.

Situated 15 minutes away from Pattaya, the park will include attractions such as a giant wave pool, a winding adventure river, speed-racing slides, family raft rides and one of the world’s largest interactive water-play fortresses.

Industry Minister M.R. Phongsawat Svastiwat said the water park project is aimed at boosting tourism in the eastern seaboard as well as distributing wealth to related sectors ranging from hotel and services to transport. He added that the project is part of the TAT’s ‘Miracle Year Of Amazing Thailand’ 2012 campaign.

Liakat Dhanji, Founder and Chairman of the project’s developer, Amazon Falls, said Thailand has been selected as the location of the network’s water park due to its reputation for hospitality, its position as one of the world’s top holiday destinations and its tropical climate.

He added that Thailand is also chosen as the ideal site given the country is one of the biggest markets for TBS, where 50 million Cartoon Network products were sold last year.

Targeting middle-income earners, the park is expected to create hundreds of jobs in the area and to attract one million visitors per year, Mr Liakat said. The Cartoon Network Amazone project is due to be completed by the first half of 2013.