Phuket News / Daily Updates from Paradise

A new era begins on Phuket this year with the opening of the first resort theme park, the Splash Jungle Waterpark at West Sands Resort. Race you to the waterslides. While pricing is still being determined, the 500 million baht waterpark will be open to the public and is capable of holding, we are told, 2500 people.

That’s a pretty big splash for a holiday island that hasn’t had much of a thrill since Dino Park. There’s even a snow-making machine on the way, for cool tropical evenings. Everything is on schedule for the opening of the waterpark on December 20.

Of equal importance, although perhaps not so essential to every resident on the island under the age of 90, is the opening of the West Sands Resort. Initially 110 condos and Phuket villas will be available (along with half-price tickets to the waterpark for guests) and that’s expected to grow to 447 units before the end of 2010.

What’s also of interest is that West Sands now has its own management team in place. At one stage, Outrigger, which already manages the Outrigger Serenity Terraces Resort in Rawai, was to oversee the West Sands establishment.

In a sense, they’ve stayed in the classy upper Phuket five-star neighborhood, branding the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas at Laguna Phuket instead. And the Outrigger will be open on December 1, along with the Andara Resort on the coast road in Kamala, making December a busy month for new five-stars to the north of the island.

But that waterpark is what will be the focus of attention closer to Christmas. ”We are confident that Splash Jungle will become a major attraction and a must-do activity for travelers,” says Grace Yang-Mercer, Vice President of Splash Jungle Waterpark.

Seven mini-parks will offer splashes from around the world: the Inca Mayas, Africa, Asia, Turkey, Northern Europe, North America and the North Pole. Additional features include three slides capable of handling 360 riders an hour, a lazy river meandering for 345 meters, a wave pool and other stuff. It covers 14 rai.

Written by Alan Morison
Published on Phuket Wan – phuketwan.com