Entertainment-venue firms expand as audiences return
After three years of declines in domestic and foreign customer numbers due to Thailand's protracted political instability, operators of major entertainment complexes, including cinemas and live theatres, have moved into an expansion phase thanks to a dram
Wallapa Phokawat, assistant managing director of Ratchada Niramit, operator of the Siam Niramit Theatre on Tiamruammit Road (opposite the Thailand Cultural Centre), said the company will open a second Siam Niramit Theatre in Phuket in December. Costing about Bt2 billion to build, the 50-rai complex will consist of a 1,750-seat theatre will a stage for live performances; a floating market; and a Thai village. With almost 90 per cent of the construction work completed, the new Siam Niramit Phuket will be located on the road linking Phuket's airport and the city.
"We have seen Phuket as a potential destination for our stage performance featuring Thailand's arts and cultural heritage. There are many charter flights landing in Phuket every day. Foreign travellers stay longer in Phuket - five to seven days on average -compared to only one or two days in Bangkok," Wallapa said.
Siam Niramit was developed and operated by the Kittiparaporn family, which has operated the Magic Land and Dream World amusement parks for almost 20 years.
"We have operated Siam Niramit in Bangkok for about six years. The 2,000-seat theatre served only 300 to 400 viewers per show over the past three years due to local economic difficulties and the political unrest, which affected the number of foreign tourists coming to Bangkok. Foreigners comprise 90 per cent of our clients," said Wallapa.
With the more stable political situation and the improvements in the overall economy, audience numbers at Siam Niramit Theatre started to increase in October and November of last year and now stand at between 800 and 1,000 per show. The theatre puts on one show daily.
"We expect this coming October to be a 'golden week' for tourists from Japan and China, as well as from Europe," said Wallapa.
Costing Bt1.5 billion, the Siam Niramit Theatre in Bangkok is expected to reach the break-even point in the next three to four years.
Santipong Arunpoowanart, building manager of Akemahakij, operator of Century The Movie Plaza, said the firm will invest Bt1 billion to develop its second Century The Movie Plaza complex on a 6-rai site on Sukhumvit Road's Soi Onnuj. The entertainment complex will consist of eight theatres with 2,000 seats altogether, and a retail plaza.
"We have already completed 90 per cent of the design work and will take another 18 months to complete the construction process. The new multiplex theatre and entertainment complex will be opened by the end of 2013," Santipong said.
95% OCCUPANCY
The first Century The Movie Plaza on Soi Rangnam has been operating for about five to six years. The entertainment complex has enjoyed steady business with 95 per cent occupancy of its retail space.
"The number of visitors to our movie complex has increased significantly from between 20,000 and 30,000 people a day a couple of years ago to between 50,000 and 60,000 today.
The return of political stability is a crucial factor, raising consumer confidence and spending, and allowing people to resume normal lifestyles, said Santipong.
The Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning yesterday bestowed "Safety Building" certification on 20 operators of entertainment buildings, including cinemas, live theatres, exhibition halls and shopping malls. The certification verifies that their safety standards have been evaluated and approved by the department.
