Splash Jungle Photo Album Above
NOW PHUKET residents can get wet at West Sands. The Splash Jungle waterpark, near Phuket airport, has slashed prices by more than half.
The entry charge for all-day admission for anyone who can produce ID that proves they are residents of Thailand is now 750 baht for adults and 380 baht for children.
That's less than half what was being asked when Splash Jungle opened on January 30. Normal admission prices have also nosedived to 1495 baht for adults and 750 baht for children.
Water Park General Manager and Director of Operations, Christopher R. Stuart, told Phuketwan today that the park was geared up for an influx of customers this weekend.
A new marketing strategy is now in place. Coupons are being handed out at Central Festival, Tesco-Lotus and Jungceylon, promoting discounts of 20 percent.
Another offer, buy one, get one free, is also likely to be available around Phuket's popular haunts as the awareness campaign intensifies..
Mr Stuart is blitzing tour agencies, telling them what a great place Splash Jungle is for tourists. He was about to head off to an Iranian agency. Apparently it's the holiday season there.
The waterpark is the island's first theme park, a state of the art product with fun rides of many kinds, covering 14 rai and costing about 500 million baht.
Splash Jungle sits close to the West Sands Residences and Villas Resort, with many condominiums having ringside seats for the waterpark action.
''The feedback for the waterpark so far is 100 percent positive,'' Mr Stuart said. ''And that goes especially for safety and staff.''
Initial high prices brought virtually unanimous criticism from Phuketwan readers and others who felt Splash Jungle was simply too expensive, although management struck comparisons with the cost of other theme parks in international destinations and a round of golf on the island.
At much lower prices now (Slash Jungle prices), the critics will be able to afford to visit Splash Jungle and decided for themselves whether the novelty day out is worth the money.
Today, when Phuketwan visited the park, we found a couple and their toddler virtually had the place to themselves. It was late morning.
We watched the young family arrive in one of the special Splash Jungle buses. A whole fleet, similar to the the FantaSea vehicles, now criss-crosses the island, bringing visitors from their resorts.
Tried the new waterpark? Tell us what you think in Comment below
Estimates of daily entry numbers vary from 50 a day during the working week to perhaps 200 at weekends. For a park capable of holding 2000 swimmers and sliders, Splash Jungle at times has more lifeguards than customers.
''We use a mannequin on the slides sometimes to surprise the lifeguards and make sure they stay alert,'' Mr Stuart said.
At the new lower prices, Mr Stuart expects Thais to now try out the waterpark in much larger numbers, and word of mouth about its attributes is expected to spread quickly.
Concerns that the fleet of buses might drive into conflict with local taxi drivers on Phuket have proven to be unfounded. Taxi drivers who bring visitors to the park earn a commission.
Mr Stuart was keen to make the point that although Mai Khao is one of Phuket's longest beaches and officially the waterpark's home address, Splash Jungle is located at the southern end, close to the airport.
The turn-off road, just north of the airport t-junction, has recently been resurfaced and widened almost all the way to the entrance of the park.
Coming up soon is a charity outing for up to 700 children . . . a real chance for the waterpark to make a splash.
Splash Jungle waterpark, open daily. For details, Telephone 076 372111.
Photo Album With a fleet of buses circulating at Phuket resorts, the Splash Jungle waterpark aims to become the daytime equivalent of FantaSea and attract up to 2000 guests daily.
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Well that didn't take long! I think the reason is not just the high price, but the location. All in all I am not surprised to hear "when Phuketwan visited the park, we found a couple and their toddler virtually had the place to themselves. It was late morning."
Well, at the new price we might just try it, but it'll still be 2000 Baht+, add on transport, drinks, food etc... Not all local foreign residents are rich! However, if it's quiet, might be a nice half day out during the kids school holidays....
Posted by Jamie on March 2, 2010 14:59