PHUKET WATER PARK West Sands Splash Jungle Opening January 30

Foreigner with Thai wife/gf and two children will have to pay 6350 baht and a non Thai family of four will have to pay 6700 baht for a day in this water park. I doubt it will be a success. I will not take my family there still I could afford to do it every week. It just doesn’t make sense when living here. Also listening to the kids who probably would like to go there every week. No I don’t think so.

The water park itself is a great thing for Phuket no doubt but with the prices it’s a scare-off for potential tourists considering coming here.

Nowadays tourists are not idiot travellers and are often looking quite a lot on internet to see whats available before deciding destinations. Especially when travelling with kids. Checking out activities for the kids and looking at the total and Phuket is not a cheap destination anymore. Rip off transport system, hotels getting more pricy, entertainment venues like Phuket Fantasy, Simon Cabaret, then comes island trips, big game fishing etc and families are looking to spend 10.000 baht a day here. Then there is far better places to go than this island.

Thailand or Phuket might think they are something but are not for the rich or big spenders. Phuket has a long way to go to be even close and also have to deal with its crime rate and murder rate before it gets totally out of control. Also behaviour has to be thought to the people working in the tourist related business here.

It's way to expensive!

I'm from Southern California, and lived 5 minutes from Disneyland, and 20 minutes from a huge water park.

The waterpark survived off of locals, not tourists.

Anyone coming to Phuket is coming for the biggest water park playground in the world... and guess what, it's free! It's called the BEACH!

I'm sure these guys have crunched some numbers suggesting that tourists are willing to sit around, on someones elses schedule to sit in a cramped bus for 30 to 60 minute, then shell out 2,200 (remember the VAT) (for a family of 2 parents and 2 kids this comes to 7,000 plus food, once your there, and then after a long hot day in the sun, stand in line for another cramped bus ride home.

I'm not sure what demographic tourist that is.

Really rich family who doesn't value their time, comfort, and money?

It would be good to do a comparison of all the fees charged for the major entertainments on the Island such as - Phuket Fantasy; Simon Cabaret; Stunt Show in Chalong; and even the GOLD Cinema Seating at Central. I would imagine that the Sands pricing isn't that far off, although baht2,000 per person does seem steep and doesn't encorage a return business for those living on the Island.

people, its called "free market enterprise", let the market decided if its a success or not a group of bloggers attempting to get their views across about how expensive it is and talking this down will not help its prospects.. well done to West Sands for have the balls to build the thing.. they now need a ROI ..

Incredible! Surely West Sands are not comparing themselves with Disneyland in Hong Kong. If this is their attitude then I would imagine that they will not succeed. In a time when social media is hugely relevant to listen to consumer attitudes and to market trends - arrogance on sensitive matters such as pricing should not be ignored.

I do hope that their marketing person has more common sense, as this is clearly not a good start to what should be a stunning introduction of a large resort to the people on the island. At the end of the day, who will be their customer base and their word of mouth marketing mechanism, especially in low season when we see a drop in arrivals?

They should be inviting people to a week long opening event for free - auction off free entry tickets online X amount per day for Phuket people. Not only is this a great PR activity but a massive good will gesture for the locals, expat and Thai. That's some marketing advice for free for you West Sands and I for one can't wait to splash around up there but not for forty quid a time.

IT WILL BE IHTERESTING TO SEE WHO GETS THE CONTRACT FOR THE PICK UPS ETC

THIS IS SOMETHING MANY TOURIST ATRACTIONS HAVE WISHED TO DO BUT BECAUSE OF THE TUK TUK MAFIA THEY HAVE BEEN TO FRIGHTENED,

WEST SANDS ARE A LARGE COMPANY AND ONE OF THE DIRECTORS IS THE BOSS OF TESCO LOTUS. LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS, IT COULD SET A PRECEDENT

Splash jungle prices are similar or less than Water Parks in Korea, Ocean Park and Disneyland in Hong Kong and include two way transfers from Patong, Laguna and other points as well relevant to the Phuket Fantasea evening prices.




Bill Barnett responds:
Thanks

What are they thinking? Australia has free entry water parks. I am not suggesting that West Sands if free but forty GBP is way too expensive. What planet are these people living on - its Thailand not Paris. Why on earth are we continually being ripped off over here?
Bill Barnett responds:
We did speak to the management and yes the Thai rate does reflect for both Thai nationals and Phuket residents which should give some relieft to locals.

Far too expencive. I believe the total income will increase if they reduce the ticket 30 % . Look forward!

i could think of better ways to spend baht 2000 in such places as Patong and have a much better time and support the locals

I agree with John Devonport, the prices do seem excessive and I dont think this will make the place as popular a venue as it could be.

This is Phuket Thailand, and the prices quoted are western style prices

Just imagine, a family of 4 travelling from Patong or almost anywhere else on Phuket to Mai Khao and enjoying the Water park. With Phuket's kind of cheap Tourism i can not see how this will be sucessful. Good luck .

I have to agree, its seems expensive. Your article mentions discounts to local Thai residents....what about us Farang residents.? do we not get a discount?.


Bill Barnett responds:
Believe that by Thai residents would be both locals and foreigners. Will check and update the site.

So from April, the cost for a family of 4 would be approaching 10k baht for an afternoons fun, if you include a few refreshments. Combine this cost, with the start of the monsoon season in early May, looks like somebody sat in an office, has not done their research on the low season in Phuket.

Wait out the early novelty rush, then pick up the big discounts after a few months.


Bill Barnett responds:
Lets see, no doubt promotions would apply and if hotels are anything to judge by discounting remains king at present.

I THINK 2 EXPENSIVE,ONLY THE RICH, WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT,IF YOU WANT TO SURVIVE IN PHUKET TOURIST ATRACTIONS YOU HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE, UNLESS OF COURSE THEY HAVE TO PAY A HIGH COMMISION TO THE TOUR OPERATORS.

GOOD LUCK TO THEM ONLY TIME WILL TELL