Line Thailand, the local arm of the popular mobile messaging app, is investing more than 500 million baht to launch a digital amusement and theme park in Bangkok this year.

Kampanart: Park to feature Line Friends

Dubbed Line Village Bangkok, the park will open in December and is expected to draw close to 12 million domestic and Asean tourists a year, said Kampanart Wonghongkul, chief executive of Line Village Bangkok.

The three-storey, 1,500-square-metre indoor adventure park will be located in Siam Square One Shopping Centre, connected to Siam skytrain station.

Mr Kampanart said the park will be a venue to showcase Line Friends characters through high-tech mapping, as well as Line shops selling Line merchandise and souvenirs.

"The park is designed to attract both Thai and international tourists," he said.

Line Village Bangkok will be overwhelmed by tourists from the region who are familiar with the application, Mr Kampanart said.

Thailand is Line's second-biggest market, after Japan.

Pongpanu Svetarundra, permanent-secretary of the Tourism and Sports Ministry, said Line Village Bangkok park will help promote Thailand to become a world-class tourism destination. Bangkok is one of the world's top tourist destination cities.

He said the theme park will improve the country's image, and stimulate the economy by attracting international and national tourists.

There are more than 44 million mobile internet users in Thailand, 94% of whom are Line users.

Thais spend an average of 70 minutes on Line per day, out of a total of 234 minutes they spend on their smartphones.