THAI SHOPPING PARADISE IN JUNE- JULY

All through the months of June and July 2001, visitors to Thailand will be able to fill their shopping carts with products at amazingly low prices – thanks to the colourful ‘Amazing Thailand Grand Sale Grand Service’ campaign now under way in full swing.

All over the country, retail shops, department stores, hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions and theme parks have joined hands to offer discounts ranging from 10-80% to patrons, local and foreign. The main shopping and discount extravaganzas are accompanied by an even bigger line-up of exciting promotions, entertainment and activities for everyone.

Major events include the Made In Thailand and Exporting Products Fair at Export Promotion Department between June 7-27, the Industrial Promotion Fair at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre between July 12-16. Other interesting events featuring fabulous Thai handicrafts, export- quality products as well as local food and fruits are also planned by department stores and shopping complexes in major tourist cities including Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Pattaya, Phuket, Rayong, Petchaburi, etc.

The campaign is designed to help boost Thailand’s reputation as a world-class destination blessed with amazing shopping opportunities at equally amazing prices.

TAT Deputy Governor Mrs. Juthamas Siriwan said, “All the way from the launch on June 1 at Bangkok International Airport to weekly themed events in major provinces throughout Thailand, this year’s Grand Sale Grand Service will pick up where the last one left off in terms of excitement and entertainment.

“Visitors to Thailand will enjoy an unprecedented opportunity to buy the vast range of ‘Made in Thailand’ products and enjoy a wide variety of services at amazing low prices,” she added.

The Grand Sale Grand Service campaign is being intensively promoted by TAT and Thai Airways International through their respective offices abroad. The Airports Authority of Thailand has also joined hands in promoting the event to visitors at the airport.

Colourful marketing collaterals including brochures and posters have been specially produced for the event. Eye-catching flags and banners are prominently displayed at all major public areas and by participating businesses.

In Bangkok, visitors can already get around easily by the Skytrain which links nearly all of the city’s major shopping centres, department stores and hotel districts. In addition, a “Shopping Bus” has been launched with English language routes linking department stores, shopping centres and hotels around Pratunam, Ratchathewi, Rajdamri and Siam Square.

The city’s bus company, the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), is operating the “Shopping Bus” daily between 11 am to 9 pm.

Taxi-drivers are also being involved in the effort. TAT and the Airports Authority of Thailand organised seminars on May 30 and June 12 for drivers of metered taxis to realise the importance of being good hosts to visitors and provide decent, honest services.

The shopping festival is being held in June and July because they are the traditional low season months for tourism to Thailand. Most of the visitors during this period are from Australia/New Zealand, Northeast Asia, India and the Middle East countries. In June and July 2000, a total of 1,482,887 visitors came to Thailand, up about 9% over June 1999.

Visitor expenditure figures for 2000 show that the average daily spending per person was 3,681.119 baht (or US$96.27), of which 34.67% was on shopping. Shopping alone contributed to about 98.91 billion baht (or US$2.47 million) to the Thai economy, keeping millions of low-income people in jobs.