Thais bring X-mas cheer to retailers

BANGKOK : Thailand 's surging economy has climaxed with feverish spending this holiday season, as Thais celebrate Christmas on an unprecedented scale and retailers cash in on the festive spirit.

The capital has been draped in a colourful canopy of glittering lights, with boulevards and parks bedecked with bows and holiday banners, and huge trees topped with pink angels filling the lobbies of shopping malls, where a barrage of Christmas carols puts consumers in the mood.

Sales clerks have donned Santa's caps and reindeer antlers, while Saint Nick himself has been spotted careening through town on three-wheeled tuk tuks, and carolling can be heard on the mass-transit skytrain, where passengers' mobile phones ring with Christmas jingles.

There is no doubt that the celebrations in predominantly Buddhist Thailand are more of a commercial exercise — and geared towards the kingdom's predilection for partying.

"We are promoting Thailand as a shopping destination, not just during Christmas but year round," Tourism Authority of Thailand spokeswoman Ruengsang Sripaoraya told AFP.

"Thais want to have a good time. So when it comes to Christmas, the religion is not the point," she said.

--AFP 2003-12-22

"Thais want to have a good time. So when it comes to Christmas, the religion is not the point," she said.

Next they'll be trying to put religion into Christmas. .