Central Retail Corporation (CRC) announced 5 billion baht new face of Central Festival Phuket shopping mall including the launching of its fourth floor. The renovation process started on September 2004 when the complex has opened. It will be complete on early 2011. This remake meant to recover Phuket tourism industry high growth projections in retail sector throughout Thailand.

The renovation costs about 150 million spent by 300 retail tenants to renovate their stores in this complex. Thanapon Tangkananan said government’s retail industry limited its growth between 7% and 8% for this year as the highest along these five years. Mr. Thanapon is CRC vice president for business development and former president of Thai Retailers Association.

Retail sector development drove by strong domestic consumption and exports as well as fine price of agriculture products said him. Phuket itself attracted more than 7 million foreign tourists annually which was half of the total number of foreign visitors to Thailand, he added. “Despite some negative factors, such as the political unrest that hit Bangkok earlier this year, the number of foreign tourists visiting Phuket has recovered very quickly,” Mr Thanapon said. The growth had estimated about 20% last year.

Central Festival Phuket will be launch for twice on February as “The South’s Best International Lifestyle and Shopping Destination.” Its resettlement meant to attract larger numbers of foreign tourists especially from Russia, China including Hong Kong, South Korea, and Europe. CRC executive vice president for business development Lertvit Pumipitak said its new face would support parent corporation’s leadership position in retail business of Phuket. “The renovation will increase total retail space of the shopping mall from 40,000 square meters to 53,000sqm,” he said.

This extension will operate when the fourth floor opens after it was unused for more than six years. The new fourth floor will be a health and beauty zone that will be fulfill by 20 shops. It offers total retail space for more than 4,500 sqm. The amount of tenant stores in Central Festival Phuket has increased by 15% within 30-40 launching of new outlets. It will open after the renovation had completed.

Within the renovation the company expected an increasing of customer for 20% to 25 %. The mall now absorbs between 10,000 and 15,000 customer per day. While 40% of them were foreigners said Mr. Lertvit. General manager of Central Festival Phuket Wilaiporn Pitimanaaree said the sales of retail tenants increased between 12% and 15% last year in first 10 months. The mall itself expected average sales grow by more than 20% during the last two months. It has driven by holiday season and the opening of high season. Foreigners spent twice than local customer per visit, said her.

News by Phuket Gazette