SIX HUNDRED ELEPHANTS IN ONE ZOO!!!!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Dear AAPN colleagues,

Keeping six hundred elephants in a zoo sounds like a Hans

Christian Andersen fairy story.

Best wishes and kind regards,

 

Yours sincerely,

http://nationmultimedia.com/2005/09/26/business/index.php?news=business_18706157\

..html

Elephants, birds, cable cars to join Chiang Mai safari

Published on September 26, 2005

 

Three recreation projects with a combined investment of Bt3 billion are being

developed in Chiang Mai under theme “Chiang Mai World”, designed to compete with

man-made tourist destinations in Hong Kong and Singapore and to establish Chiang

Mai as a new regional tourism hub.

 

The projects are the Chiang Mai Night Safari, the Elephant Park and Bird Tunnel

and the Cable Line.

 

Pisal Wasuwanich, director of the Chiang Mai Night Safari, said Chiang Mai World

would be similar to famous parks in Turkey, Switzerland, the USA and Australia

which attract millions of tourists each year.

 

“This is a new product that we need to compete with neighbouring countries

including the newly opened Hong Kong Disney Land and Casino complexes in

Singapore. The project will also to draw more local people to Chiang Mai,” said

Pisal.

 

The Chiang Mai Night Safari is located in Doi Suthep–Pui National Park covering

an area of 819 rai. Construction work is almost complete, and the park is

scheduled to open on November 16. It has cost Bt1.2 billion.

 

It is expected to attract 1.2 million tourists a year or 15 per cent of

international tourists travelling to Chiang Mai, and to generate revenue of

Bt400 million a year.

 

Admission is Bt400 for tourists and Bt250 for locals. However, Pisal said that

local people would be the biggest proportion of visitors.

 

Design and construction consultancy was by Singapore firm Bernard Harrison and

Friends, which also manages Singapore’s Night Safari. The expedition features

three areas, a Predator Prowl Ride, a Jaguar Trail and a Savannah Safari. There

are now about 1,500 animals, and more will be added before the opening date.

 

The Night Safari will also have local produce shops, elephant rides and tour

buses.

 

Pisal said the Elephant Park and Bird Tunnel would be finished by the end of

2006 and located next to the night safari.

 

It is expected to cost Bt700 million to develop the 600-rai area.

 

There will be more than 600 elephants, which will make it the country’s largest

elephant park.

 

The Bird Tunnel will be 500 metres long, making it the world’s longest, and

feature various species of birds and butterflies.

 

The park plans to give tourists two viewing options, tents and tree houses.

 

The Cable Line will have five stations and link the Night Safari and Elephant

Park. It is expected to cost Bt1.2 billion and will soon be tendered to the

private sector.

 

Suchat Srittama

 

The Nation