The 200,000-square-metre complex set on 55-rai was initially due to open in late 2004, but was interrupted by the tsunami on December 26 that year in addition to legal disputes between its former shareholders. The project was resumed in February this year when Singapore-based Real Estate Capital Asia Partners (Recap) acquired 95 per cent of the project.

The project will have a high-rent neighbour after the Millennium hotel group, also owned by Recap, builds the Bt2-billion five-star Millennium Phuket Hotel, which will boast 400 rooms.

The new owners made no changes to Jungceylon's 75,000-sqm retail complex area plan, which will accommodate 200 tenants. The complex consists of different zones: Silang Boulevard, The Port, Junk Boat, Sino Phuket, Phuket Square and Talad Phuket. Silang Boulevard will include international fast food outlets, a sports complex, fashion boutiques and a spa, while Phuket Square will house a Robinson department store, Carrefour supermarket, an SFX Entertainment Centre and more. The Port will have an outdoor garden area and a lake at which to hold events, The Junk Boat will feature a hydraulic stage and catwalk, Sino Phuket will be the night-life destination and Talad Phuket will be an arts and crafts centre. Currently, 85 per cent of construction has already been completed.

Around 70,000 sqm of the commercial area has already been reserved. Thai companies account for 70 per cent of the tenants, while the rest are international brands, said Prawit Janyasittikul, deputy chief executive of Jungceylon's operator, Phuket Square Co Ltd.

Prawit said Jungceylon would get good feedback after its planned December 1 opening.

The company is not worried about last week's coup, he said, because it believes it will only last a few weeks. In addition, major hotels in the province have not seen customers cancel room reservations since the junta took over.

Prawit predicted 45,000 visitors would visit the complex every day, of 30 per cent would be locals and expatriates living in the area, 15 per cent from Bangkok and the rest foreign tourists.

The company has will spend Bt100 million marketing the complex starting next month through the end of next year. Part of the budget will cover advertising in local and international media. It has also joined up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to arrange activities.

While promoting the retail complex, the company is also waiting for Millennium start construction, which is expected by the middle of next year. It will be Millennium's second hotel in Thailand after the Millennium Hilton Bangkok.

Before Recap's acquisition, two hotels were planned for the zone: the Burasari Jungceylon and the Four Point Sheraton Hotel in the Starwood hotel group. Now it is building just one.

Nitida Asawanipont

The Nation