FantaSea to build theme park in Langkawi

PHUKET: Pin Kewpaisal, president and CEO of Phuket Fantasea, has revealed that Dr Mahathir Mohamed, Prime Minister of Malaysia, has asked him to build a new theme park in Langkawi, and he has agreed. In an interview with Tansettakit newspaper, K. Pin said that he had already had two conferences with Dr Mahathir to discuss the Prime Minister’s plan. K. Pin did not reveal the total investment required, but said the Malaysian government had committed to provide 20% and to extend a low-interest loan to cover the remaining 80%. “We will create an adventure theme park better than any in the world. We expect to open it this year in order to be ready for Asian Travel Year [in 2001].” K. Pin said investing money in Langawi is more risky than putting it into Thailand but the risk might be offset by Malaysian government help in getting tourists to visit the theme park. “It is good because this could stimulate tourism in Langkawi,” Pin said. “Compared with Phuket, Langkawi has a small number of tourists.”