Japan's largest factory outlet operator, Mitsui Fudosan Retail Management Co, the developer of Mitsui Outlet Park, is keen on opening a similar park in Thailand.
Kazuo Iida, the general manager for the company's tourism sales promotion department, said yesterday during a visit that Thailand's huge number of foreign tourist arrivals make it an attractive location for outlet malls.
"We're interested in opening the Mitsui Outlet Park in Thailand," he said. "But the plan is just in the consideration process."
According to Mr Iida, Mitsui Fudosan Group is putting a focus on efforts to draw Thais to shop at its Mitsui Outlet Park in Japan.
"We have come to Thailand to announce the grand opening of the third stage of Mitsui Outlet Park Kisarazu on Oct 26 because Thailand is one of our most important [inbound] markets," Mr Iida said, adding that the number of Thais who visit Mitsui Outlet Park increases every year.
More than 60,000 Thais visited Mitsui Outlet Park in 2016, with the number increasing to 80,000 last year.
The company expects the number of Thais to visit Mitsui Outlet Park to reach 120,000 this year.
"The number of Thais who visit Mitsui Outlet Park ranks fourth after China, Hong Kong and Taiwan," Mr Iida said. "The number of Thais who visit Mitsui Outlet Park will outpace Taiwanese visitors for third place in the near future."
According to Mr Iida, the company will hold a grand opening for the third-stage expansion of Mitsui Outlet Park on Oct 26. The existing area for both the first stage and the second stage have been undergoing renovations with a total of 308 stores available.
"With the new store makeover, Mitsui Outlet Park Kisarazu is moving towards becoming the outlet mall with the most stores in Japan," Mr Iida said, adding that the stores consist of leading brands such as Onitsuka, Kenzo, Mulberry, Breitling, The North Face, Kate Spade, Under Amour, Michael Kors, Tory Burch and GaGa Milano.
Mitsui Fudosan Group operates 13 outlet malls in Japan and two branches in Taiwan and Malaysia.
Mitsui Fudosan also plans to open another outlet mall with the tentative name of Mitsui Outlet Park Taichung Port in Taiwan.
This mall will have a site area of 180,000 square metres and total floor space of 65,000 square metres with 160 stores. Mitsui Outlet Park Taichung Port is scheduled to open by the end of this year.
Mitsui Fudosan Group operates in several sectors in Japan, including resorts, hotels, office buildings, housing projects, shopping centres and outlet malls.
Mitsui Outlet Park contributes about half of the group's sales.
