Merlin Entertainments is to open a Madame Tussauds attraction in Bangkok, Thailand in 2010.

To be located at the Siam Discovery centre, the US$15m (£9.2m, €10.2m) Tussauds Bangkok site will become the Group's 61st attraction when it opens in September 2010. It will also be the company's tenth Madame Tussauds worldwide, and the third to open in Asia, joining sister attractions in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

The opening is part of Merlin's plans to increase the number of Midway sites - branded, "chainable", low capex city-centre or coastal visitor attractions - to more than 50 around the globe.

Earlier this year, Merlin announced that two other Midway attractions would open during 2010 - a Sea Life centre in Phoenix, Arizona, US and a Legoland Discovery Centre in Manchester, UK.

According to chief executive Nick Varney, the group has a target of opening between four and five new Midway attractions each year.

"The geographic spread of these locations is indicative of Merlin's ambition and the power of its brands," he added. "It also evidences an increasing demand for high quality leisure attractions all across the globe.

"Our Midway brands are some of the most recognisable and popular in the world, and we plan to deliver these fantastic family experiences to many new audiences in the years ahead."