King Power Group Thailand Group Chairman and founder Vichai Raksriaksorn has confirmed that the company is to open a second downtown complex this September in the eastern resort city of Pattaya on a 12-acre site – complete with full duty free facilities.

Speaking to TREND this month, he said: “One of my immediate priorities for this year is the opening of another new downtown business. It will be located in Pattaya, and will open on 15th September 2011. 

“We are developing a 12-acre site, which will initially include a 4,500 square metre duty free shop, specifically focused on the Chinese and Russian passengers, who are amongst our highest spenders both at the airport, and in our existing downtown location. 

“The shop will operate in the same manner as the Downtown complex, with pick up airside at either Suvarnabhumi or Utapao airports.”

The retailer is understood to be spending around Bht.500m ($79m) on the new complex which it hopes will capture a good proportion of Chinese and Russian spends in Pattaya – a regional resort that has become an increasingly popular destination for both these and other nationalities.