Feature: Chocolate theme park creates festive mood, investment opportunities in Athens

The Chocolate Factory and Museum in Athens that opened its doors to the public recently invites everyone to take a fairy tale journey to the magical world of chocolate, spreading joy during the holiday season.

Children of all ages with their families have the opportunity to enjoy the chocolate waterfalls, fudge mountains, giant truffles, and caramel rivers while participating in chocolate and biscuit workshops. Who could not give in to such temptation?

"People's response is overwhelming. Without advertising -- only in social media -- the first Saturday there was a line of 500 people waiting to enter. We become better every day, we learn from our mistakes and we are ready to be responsive to our visitors' needs," Dimitris Symeonidis, one of the "brains" behind the theme park, told Xinhua.

With more than 2,000 visitors on weekdays, mainly from schools from across the capital, and 10,000 during the weekends, the personnel are more than excited about the outcome.

The theme park is located in an area of 3,500 square meters on the premises of an exhibition center in a northern suburb of the Greek capital.

The idea behind the theme park comes from the passion of three people for chocolate.

"We have visited all the chocolate thematic parks in the world. We were inspired, put our imaginations together and with some adaptation to Greek reality we created this park," Symeonidis explained.

Regarding the secret of its success, undoubtedly the love for chocolate comes first. However, Symeonidis expressed his concerns over disappointing expectations.

"Visitors have high expectations as they believe that they will leave from here with choco-cakes. In the museum, they have the opportunity to learn about the history of chocolate, to taste flavors and experience interesting combinations," he said.

"Imagine that in Belgium, in the capital of chocolate in Europe, in the same thematic park there were no personnel and no interactive activities. You don't even taste chocolate," he added.

Athens' "Choco Factory and Museum," which will be open until Feb. 21, is a theme park with educational, interactive and recreational content.

The initiation into the world of chocolate begins with a sensual tour through a small, but real, jungle, where simulated conditions allow visitors to feel the heat and stifling humidity.

In the Aztec Temple, visitors will learn about the natives of the Americas, their civilization, their legends and incredible stories about cocoa.

Among the highlights of the park besides the jungle is the waterfall with 1,200 liters of real chocolate.

"This is the largest chocolate waterfall that we have in Europe right now. It is pure chocolate, really hot, so I would not recommend a dive. This is 40 degrees Celsius, it is really high in choco butter, in fat. That is what gives it its texture. This here is an elf village. We are all elves, the protectors of the chocolate waterfall. We need it in order to run the entire factory," one of the elves named Rasta Pasta Yam Yam told Xinhua.

Not only children love the experience, but also adults. "It has a very warm atmosphere, we can see how chocolate is made, it is not tiring, and from each interactive activity you have something to learn," Vassilis Kouzalas, who visited the theme park with his 3-year-old daughter and his wife, told Xinhua.

According to a report entitled "Economic Impact Assessment of Theme and Amusement Parks in Europe" conducted for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) in 2014, Greece has a small leisure market -- consisting of two amusement parks -- compared to other European countries.

Both Kouzalas and Symeonidis pointed out that lack of thematic parks. "We do not have parks for children and teenagers, like for example automobiles. Such parks can be very inspirational for the young ones, to see how certain industries work and maybe help them later to pick the right profession," Kouzalas said.

"Greece is a country that needs theme parks. We have tourism almost all year long, abroad in every village there is a thematic park. Unfortunately, here in big cities parents do not have a place to take their children to for amusement," Symeonidis said.

For Symeonidis, these thematic parks can contribute to the Greek economy as a new area of investment. "We have more than 10 cities that are interested to host the Chocolate Factory and Museum in their place, like Moscow and Istanbul. It can be a very good exportable product," he said. Endi