Amazing Thailand Grand Sale to Open June 1, 2003

Thailand's annual Grand Sale Grand Service shopping festival is to kick off again on 1 June, a two-month extravaganza of quality products and services going at amazing discounts of up to 80% off regular prices.

About 900 business operators, or 30% more than in 2002, are participating in an event that is rapidly gaining fame as one of the biggest shopping extravaganzas in Southeast Asia. They include retail shops, department stores, restaurants, tourist attractions, tour agencies, theme parks, golf clubs, sports clubs, spas, hotels and other forms of accommodation.

All participating outlets will be clearly identifiable by the ‘Thailand Grand Sale’ logo. The festival will continue until July 31, 2003.

Organised every year since 1998 by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), this year’s show is being supported by Visa International which will be promoting it to 250 million cardholders in Asia and the Pacific and five million cardholders in Thailand.

The TAT Governor Mrs Juthamas Siriwan said, “With the SARS situation apparently coming under control, we expect that people will start travelling again. Hence, such a Grand Sale will be a wonderful opportunity for them to come to Thailand and enjoy great discounts and deals, especially when combined with our Thailand Smiles Plus marketing campaign.”

TAT will be distributing 500,000 copies of a shopping guidebook at all the international airports, TAT offices both in Thailand and overseas, leading department stores, the BTS Skytrain and hotels.

Flags, posters, handbills, stickers, banners and billboards will be placed at visitor attractions throughout Thailand, along with advertising spots in newspapers, magazines, radio and TV stations, and the websites and newsletters of both TAT and VISA.

For every 500 baht worth of purchases via the Visa or Visa-electron cards during June 1–July 31, shoppers will be eligible to participate in a lucky draw of five prizes of a Mazda car. Winners will be randomly selected by computer every two weeks.

One highlight will be the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale Grand Service Fair 2003 between June 5-8, 2003, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. Over 500 sellers from both the public and private sectors are expected to participate in this event which will feature a broad range of products from all around Thailand.

The departments of Export Promotion, Community Development, Agricultural Promotion and Industrial Promotion are all participating, along with Thailand’s Royal Projects and the Thai Gem and Jewel Traders Association.

Also participating in the event will be the Tourism Council of Thailand, Association of Thai Travel Agents, Association of Domestic Travel, Thai Federation of Provincial Tourism and the Thai Hotels Association.

Travel industry companies will be offering discounts of up to 70% via tour packages combining accommodation and airlines. Four airlines (THAI Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Air Andaman and Phuket Air) will be offering air-fare discounts of up to 25 %.

Mrs Juthamas said, “The objective is to create incentives and stimulate both domestic and international travel to and within Thailand. All visitors like to shop which in turn helps create revenue for the overall economic development of the country. The recent downturn in tourism has affected everyone, especially the small  and medium sized enterprises, and it is important to help them recover as quickly as possible.”

She added, “It will also enhance the image of Thailand as a peaceful and safe  destination.”

The event is expected to generate about 250 million baht in tourism revenue and 60,000 million baht in direct and indirect economic gain nationwide.