Bangkok's Ratchaprasong Area Aims To Emulate Singapore's Orchard Road

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BUSINESS

Ratchaprasong area aims to emulate Orchard Road

The Nation

Chai Srivikorn, centre, president of the Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association, yesterday welcomes two new members, The Platinum Fashion Mall and Novotel Bangkok Platinum, whose presence will help boost daily visitor traffic to the area by a projected 30

BANGKOK: -- Operators around the Ratchaprasong area are attempting to create an environment like Singapore's Orchard Road in Bangkok with an integrated shopping area comprising the main streets of Ratchaprasong, Pratunam, Pathum Wan and Ploenchit, in a project aimed at increasing the daily number of visitors by 30 per cent to 350,000 next year.

As part of the strategy, the Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA) yesterday welcomed The Platimum Fashion Mall and Novotel Bangkok Platinum as new members to mark the area as an integrated city lifestyle centre with a combined space of 1.02 million square metres in the heart of the capital.

The association is also poised to boost the potential of the Ratchaprasong area through highly efficient infrastructure along with its international exposure as a leading business and lifestyle destination in Southeast Asia, targeting an increase of 30 per cent in the number of Thai and international visitors to the area.

Last year, the number of Ratchaprasong visitors rose to an average of 196,000 per day, an increase of 27 per cent.

The projected 2012 increase is 33 per cent to 260,000 people a day this year, and then by a further 30 per cent next year.

RSTA president Chai Srivikorn yesterday said the association had been strengthening the merchant network of Ratchaprasong with the strategic aim to boost the potential and competitiveness of the area in the regional scale of Asia.

The area includes 12 key business premises: Gaysorn, Amarin Plaza, CentralWorld, Erawan Bangkok, President Tower Arcade, Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, InterContinental Bangkok, Holiday Inn Bangkok, Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok, Centara Grand at CentralWorld, Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel and Maneeya Centre.

Adding The Platimum Fashion Mall and Novotel Bangkok Platinum will create the largest business district in Bangkok, boasting full capability and a greatly enhanced image to cover all lifestyle preferences and a complete range of fashion products, Chai said.

To support that objective, the RSTA has implemented a development plan for increasing the potential of Ratchaprasong. It has invested in highly efficient infrastructure across the district to facilitate visitors, including an integrated security system and better lighting around business premises and on the Skywalk.

Some Bt70 million is being spent to widen the Skywalk, specifically the span from the frontage of Amarin Plaza to the connected entrance of Gaysorn. Construction will be completed this coming October.

Another plan is also in place, whereby the Skywalk will be extended sideways from the course of the BTS Skytrain at Gaysorn, forming a T-shape connection to The Platinum Fashion Mall some 500 metres away.

Pongsak Nantawannakul, executive vice president of The Platinum Fashion Mall, said his mall has a solid positioning as the one-stop wholesale fashion shopping mall. There are as many as 60,000 visitors daily, 40 per cent of them foreigners.

The centre also houses the Novotel Bangkok Platinum to accommodate tourists and business visitors needing a convenient place to stay, he said.

-- The Nation 2012-06-26

[Payboy]

Now, if only they could get the buses to let off passengers at the bus stops instead of at the middle of the road........

[PaullyW]

Good <Snip!> luck. At least they are humble enough 'aim' this time rather than promising it in 90 days or less.

Edited June 26, 2012 by metisdead
: Expletive removed.

[sjjmmi]

Hub of copy cat's

[jalansanitwong]

Thats all Bangkok needs. Another shopping mall full of fake or overpriced clothes and electronics. It would help if these people could learn how to speak English before trying to copy Singers.

The only thing Orchard rd and Ratchaprasong have in common is Orchard Towers is where all the Thai hookers hang out...... nuff said

[hansgruber]

Yep, just copy.

Thailand never has an original idea and always fails to emulate anything 1st world.

I wonder if orchard road has protests and shopping centres burning?

[Yunla]

Emulation as substitute for innovation is a sad enough thing in itself, but in truth what Bangkok really desires is to emulate Singapore's international status, which is something else entirely and comes from Singapore's extremely low corruption index, with a CPI rating as the fifth least corrupt in the table (by perception of public sector) in 2011. http://cpi.transpare...pi2011/results/

The idea that you can emulate a successful neighbour by copying their shopping centres is patently idiotic. Singapore is successful because people like to do business there, because it is seen as trustworthy. If Thailand desires the status of Singapore, it should invest in anti-corruption and shutting down crime-syndicates including those at the very top of society, instead of just building more shopping centres.

Edited June 26, 2012 by Yunla

[Unkomoncents]

This is hilarious. First, I'm sure (as this is Thailand, one must remember) that all statistical projections are extremely optimistic. It's hard to imagine Thailand ever being able to create the shopping-mecca-appeal of Orchard Road with extortionate tax on luxury goods in the Kingdom. Though I'm sure people do appreciate the many well-priced hotel rooms as they explore Bangkok. Second, they seem to believe that, without any additional infrastructure or planning to accommodate such increases in visitors, Rajaprasong will remain an attractive, comfortable place to visit. The more that come, the better, period. Typical Thai thinking. Third, it's always important to remember that human trafficking groups (who, strangely enough, are more reliable sources of information than the Thai government) estimate that Thailand's sex industry accounts for some 70% of the tourism in Thailand. That doesn't comport much with the Orchard Road image.

[Payboy]

including an integrated security system

But excluding the touts and scammers at the Erawan shrine.

[daiwill60]

If Thailand really wanted to emulate Singapore, then surely it should start by encouraging its people to be a little more respectful of its own country and stop throwing litter everywhere and cleanng the streets up and repairing them where necessary. This would be the first job to tackle.

The other night I was present at a a school exchange program opening ceremony between Singapore and Thai schools. At the ceremony a well presented forward thinking Thai woman who spoke good English and was representing the Fullbright organisation, actually made light of how Singapore kids can feel much freer in Thailand, where they can throw their sweet wrappers and coke bottles anywhere they like, rather than be controlled in order to maintain a clean society, that is and seems to be what Thailand wants to achieve. What hope is there, REALLY???

[Thaddeus]

My typical morning.

Wake up.

Make coffee.

Sit outside with coffee and have a cigarette, talk to dog if he is there.

Open TVF

Read news section.

Frown at a couple of them, sigh at some.

And laugh socks off at at least one.

It's been much the same every day for quite some time now.

[chotthee]

Yep, just copy.

Thailand never has an original idea and always fails to emulate anything 1st world.

I wonder if orchard road has protests and shopping centres burning?

Correct.

Copy cat, just like Gaga's Rolex.

Edited June 26, 2012 by chotthee

[p_brownstone]

I guess their figures for daily visitors - past and future target - do not include the Red Shirt mob.

Patrick

[animatic]

Well this would make it easier to occupy and hold hostage next time.

[Misterwhisper]

Wonderful idea! And as a free bonus there will be colourful (well, mostly red anyway) street protests and traffic blockings every few months. Just like on Orchard Road.

[Reasonableman]

Yuk!!! We need the proliferation of cloned shopping centers like a hole in the head. More traffic, more crowding, more noise and air pollution, more grotty beer bars and obnoxious shrieking nasal b_tches on loudspeakers trying to convince you to buy crap, and a proliferation of nightmarish lcd billboards doing the same. How these "developments" get approval is a mystery. Are there no planning regulations at all? If there are, why are they not enforced? (rhetorical question). If these people had deliberately set out to create hell on earth in this area they couldn't have done a much better job. Cancerous crass commercialism at its worst. Money is the new religion in Thailand, and everyone must bow down and worship it. Yuk!!!

[Buchholz]

.

Ratchaprasong - Bangkok

Orchard Road - Singapore

yep.... same, same

Edited June 26, 2012 by Buchholz

[WhizBang]

Have any of these people ever been to Singapore, or Orchard Road? No comparison whatsoever. None, zip, nada, zilch.

As long as they plan to emulate Singapore, perhaps they can turn the klong into an emulation of Clarke Quay.

Sheesh, the mind boggles.

[doggie888888]

I think reports like these are probably aimed at some local Thais. It is to impress the lowly educated, the farmers, the villagers who can barely read, the street vendors, the gullible and the ignorant that the all important Government (with a capital G) of the Great Thai Nation has a cunning plan to be the Hub of All Hubs and the Center of the Universe. Of course, they all lap it up until the next Great Flood (or Red Shirt Riot) comes along and wreck everyone's Wet Dream.

For anyone with at least a secondary education (both Thais and foreign), we just laugh and chortle at such Grand Delusions. Maybe the pronouncement that they want to copy Orchard Road sounds a lot grander and realistic in Thai and not quite as funny as it sounds in English?

[Reasonableman]

.

Ratchaprasong - Bangkok

Orchard Road - Singapore

yep.... same, same

Trees???? What a sorry waste of stall space. Footpaths????? Same.

[zakk9]

Note to self: Never drink coffee when reading the Thai news in the morning or at least cover the keyboard first

[Lakegeneve]

Now, if only they could get the buses to let off passengers at the bus stops instead of at the middle of the road........

To do that the police and BMA district officials would have to get the street traders to stop parking their pick-ups and cars on the inner lane all day and night. Free parking right in the city!

They would also then have to stop the taxis, mini-vans and tuk tuks who also loiter in the inner and 2nd lanes blocking them all day.

In short, not going to happen.

This is the major reason traffic moves so badly on Rajadamri rd all day. The solution would be to build a concrete barrier for the inner lane and make it bus free but then the street traders would be pissed off as they would have to park elsewhere and pay for it!

[w11guy]

Yep, just copy.

Thailand never has an original idea and always fails to emulate anything 1st world.

I wonder if orchard road has protests and shopping centres burning?

They are not trying to copy anything. They want to create a similar environment. If soewhere has a great environment why wouldn't you want one as well? I bet you live in a house or condo that looks just like all the other houses and condos. And i bet you dress in a similar way to everyone else. Why don't you practice what you preach? Why are you copying everyone else. Other men wore shirts, t-shirts, trousers, etc ling before you. What are you copying them instead of innovating? And here you are complaining just like all the others - yes, another thing you are copying. At least try to be original if you expect others to be.

[SIamYank]

I hate orchard road. I travel to Singapore about every two months for business. I never stay on orchard road. It is sterile, boring, crowded and overpriced. When you are on Orchard road you feel like you are an actor in a grand commercial. Give me the flavor, the fun and the chaos of Bangkok anytime!

[mrtoad]

.

Ratchaprasong - Bangkok

Orchard Road - Singapore

yep.... same, same

That,s Scott's road, at the interchange with Orchard

[lujanit]

Does this mean that they are going to get rid of all the street vendors? None in Orchard Road for sure. Sorry, stupid comment. Too much money involved and we couldn't have the BMA and the BIB struggling could we now?

[kawaiimomo]

I hate orchard road. I travel to Singapore about every two months for business. I never stay on orchard road. It is sterile, boring, crowded and overpriced. When you are on Orchard road you feel like you are an actor in a grand commercial. Give me the flavor, the fun and the chaos of Bangkok anytime!

Oh man, at least someone with common sense. I was only once in Singapore and stayed in Orchard; feel exactly the same way: boring and sterile, food sucked, restaurants closed too early and there is no food on the street. I don't understand why they need to copy that; even if they succeed doing something like that with the wide sidewalks and so on street stalls will grow everywhere.

I guess what they want to do is to create a luxury style shopping area for attracting rich tourists, pretty much like Gaysorn but placing the malls in a suitable environment. Pretty boring and difficult to achieve if police don't enforce the laws IMO

[Buchholz]

Yesterday, June 25, 2012

The Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA)President Chai Srivikorn said that businesses located in the Ratchaprasong intersection area are still worried over the ongoing political unrest during the second half of this year.

Concerned about more political rallies which might occur in the area, entrepreneurs in the Ratchaprasong intersection are calling for harmony in the society.

http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255506250022

No word yet from the Orchard Road Trade Association President about worries over political unrest in that locale.

[easybullet3]

Thats all Bangkok needs. Another shopping mall full of fake or overpriced clothes and electronics.

i'm actually confused.

Platinum Fashion mall (2nd building) and Novotel have been open for almost a year! Why are the talking like they have 'just opened'? why would they need Welcoming? they have been here for ages already!

also: how about arresting all the con-men outside the Novotel ? - i guess the local police box boys dont want to lose their small weekly payout!

and would someone PLEASE kick out the guy who pretends that he has no arms (on the Pratunam bridge over the Canal). he folds his arms under his shirt and people pity him because they think he has no arms. maybe its a clever little scam,,, but pretty low to pretend to be handicapped in order to beg.

Finally: why is there such an UGLY hideous CEMENT PLANT,, right in the middle of a lovely shopping district!

- if they want to make the area look nice, then get rid of the CPAP cement mixing plant and constant cement trucks!!!!!!!

and the ALUMINIUM DIRTY FENCES where all the locals eat fish on the street opposite BigC should be cleaned up. the entire eating area STINKS!!

Cleaning the small area that connects platunam to central world would do WONDERS!!!

[harrry]

Does this mean that they are going to get rid of all the street vendors? None in Orchard Road for sure. Sorry, stupid comment. Too much money involved and we couldn't have the BMA and the BIB struggling could we now?

Haven't been to Orchard for a while I see...there are a few in Orchard road...I can think of a drink stand near Paragon for one. I remember a couple of Mobile phone promotions too. You can move on the footpaths though and even use a wheelchair.