TAT bets on New Year Countdown Extravaganza

[webfact]

TAT Bets On New Year Countdown Extravaganza

By Khaosod Online


Countdown event in Bangkok, 31 December 2012

BANGKOK: -- Concerned by massive loss of tourism revenue, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is hoping to boost the tourism economy with the last big project of the year: the New Year celebration.

Prolonged political crisis has driven away many potential tourists from Thailand, causing a stagnation in the country′s tourism industry, just as it enters the annual ′High Season′.

But TAT Event Director, Mr. Noppadon Phakphot, told Prachachat he hoped the situation will turn out for the better with New Year countdown festivals organised by the TAT in 8 popular tourist attractions all over the country.

The scheduled sites are said to be Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Phuket, Khon Kaen, and Nakhon Phanom.

"The events should invigorate the spending mood of tourists, both Thai and foreign, resulting in a massive cash flow," said Mr. Noppadon, “Many tourists still enjoy visiting Thailand, particularly Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Phuket.”

Mr. Adisak Thepasna, Nakhon Phanom Governor, added that the event in the northeastern province is expected to welcome no less than 100,000 visitors from Thailand and the neighbouring Laos, and they are expected to spend up to 30 – 40 million baht during the event.

Local hotels would also benefit from the festival, as they could increase the price 3 to 4 times higher than the normal season, Mr. Adisak said.

Mr. Sarawut Saeteaw, President of Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association, said that 70% of the tourists visiting Chiang Mai during New Year’s are Thai, sparing the province′s tourism from revenue loss caused by foreigner′s concern over Thailand′s political crisis.

Reportedly, hotels in Chiang Mai are now almost fully booked. It is expected that the tourists should generate no less than 200 million baht spending in Chiang Mai each day.

Mr. Suraphon Svetasreni, TAT Governor, said that despite the expected numbers of tourists visiting Thailand is lowered down to 25.75 million - 420,000 tourists lower than the previous statistics - cash flow generated during the festive season should remain as high as 1.158 trillion baht.

The TAT Governor blamed the current political situation for discouraging foreign tourists from visiting Thailand, and possibly causing some of them to visit other Thailand′s neighbouring countries instead.

In order to retain Thailand’s attractiveness, TAT plans to promote domestic tourism among Thai locals, such as new destination and seasonal tourism, said Mr. Suraphon.

TAT 2014 countdown event schedules are provided as below:

Bangkok: Central World and Ratchaprasong Intersection 31 December 2013 – 1 January 2014
Chiang Mai: Thapae Road, Thapae Gate 25 – 31 December 2013
Chiang Rai: Mae Sai district 30 December 2013 – 1 January 2014
Chonburi: Pattaya Bali Hai Pier 25 – 31 December 2013
Songkhla: Nipat Utit Road, Hat Yai 30 – 31 December 2013
Phuket: Colourful Phuket, Mueang district, 29 – 31 December 2013
Phuket Electronic Music and Dance Festival, Karon Beach 30 – 31 December 2013
Khonkaen: Happy Family Party 2014, Sri Chan Road, Mueang district 25 – 31 December 2013
Nakhon Phanom: Countdown 2014, Phanom Naka Park 29 December 2013 – 1 January 2014.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNE5qa3lPRGcwTWc9PQ==


-- Khaosod English 2013-12-13

[clockman]

Greed is the Mantra! hotels charging three to four normal prices. Make the most of it, winds of change are coming soon!

[ggold]

well they could always throw in a bit of spending money, a little gift to attract the high rollers?

Llike maybe 5000 baht on entering the country! After all if it worked for the rice farmers maybe it will work for tourists?

[ginjag]

Theme here is "Massive cash flows" Is that all they think of ???? TAT get your tourists back with love and meaning, False figures and CASH CASH----invite with a GENUINE smile, TAT get rid of the scams, you can you get a budget of 6 billion annually you are still expecting High end--honeymooners--Asian---- get your bread and butter back, Westerners, you couldn't run a blo#dy raffle.

Natural to concentrate on new year, BUT how about ALL year round.

All the B/S#t at Tesco Big C--Christmas stuff everywhere you cannot move for it, are they expecting a European invasion ??? all Xmas stuff Ha Ha, I went to buy my Xmas cards, guess what----NO HAB....new year only

[casindonet]

What are the odds? 10 to 1? Show me the bookmakers...but who is going to do the actual count, TAT?

Sent from my GT-I9200 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[ramrod711]

Given the political situation, I don't think i want to be anywhere near a place where they start counting down from 10.

[bubblegum]

Funny, Phuket is mentioned but I cannot find anything about these events in the local news.

[bubblegum]

Betting is illegal in Thailand

[bigbamboo]

Of course everyone will want to come to Thailand to celebrate the New Year, be away from their friends and families and be price gouged by hotels charging 3 or 4 times the usual rate.

It's not as if New Year happens anywhere else.

[ginjag]

Betting is illegal in Thailand

And prostitution, corruption, animal cruelty, scams, double pricing entrance fees, owning land, I could go on BUT TAT to my mind with a 6 billion Bht budget has too much money and seemingly not accountable on how it spends it, Similar to Thai Airways. Love to see their accounts.

[LuckyLew]

Greed is the Mantra! hotels charging three to four normal prices. Make the most of it, winds of change are coming soon!

This is no unique to Thailand

Happens all over the world curing peak events

Personally I would not travel now to Thailand .. why take the risk

So many safer places that are was more welcoming to Thailand

Since I live here though .... I will spend the evening in the condo

with my little girl ... and be asleep by 10pm

All it would take is a few reds and a few anti-thaksin at the same

gathering and kaBOoM

[DocN]

Oh yeah...tourists will come in big numbers!

Who hasn't heard of the famous Thai New Years- extravaganza, that attracts millions every year!

Named in one breath with Sydney's Opera House and New York's Times Square, are Bangkok's Central World and..Phuket's Central...and Hat Yai's Centr....ahm....right!

[chooka]

Suthep calls for 2014 to be postponed indefinitely.

The People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) led by Self proclaimed ruler of Thailand Mr Suthep Thaugsuban has called for 2014 to be postponed indefinitely until caretaker Prime Minster Yingluk Shinawatra personally hands him her resignation along with a nice bottle of Grange Hermitage 1951

In his speech to the protesters, Mr Suthep said since Ms Yingluck had ignored the PDRC's "order", the committee had therefore issued an "additional order" Step down or there will be no New Year.

Suthep has stated that if Yingluk meets his demands and resigns then 2014 will arrive on schedule and he will hand himself into authorities on the 1st of January.

[upena]

Most of these New Year events are for locals. TAT is clueless

[ginjag]

Whoever is in charge of TAT you want to think a bit more, about the customer, YES the customer. Every week TAT blasts out what THEY want the customer to have-WRONG, Give the customer what THEY want and NEED on holiday.

Come here for OTOP ???

Come here if your Hi So

Come here for Honeymoon

I like this one from a year or so back, come here for the "up to 70% off goods at shopping malls in BKK

I'm sure other posters can add to all their wants.

Ask the tourist what they want here, They want reasonable prices, clean streets and beaches, safe internal travel, proper duty free on departure, NO SCAMS, no additional charges when leaving, no double pricing, all taxi's metered, no mafia tuk tuks, stable government and definatly not have to face alcohol bans on numerous days of the year (tourist areas at least).

This is what they want NOT your idea----LISTEN TAT to FEEDBACK.

[chooka]

Whoever is in charge of TAT you want to think a bit more, about the customer, YES the customer. Every week TAT blasts out what THEY want the customer to have-WRONG, Give the customer what THEY want and NEED on holiday.

Come here for OTOP ???

Come here if your Hi So

Come here for Honeymoon

I like this one from a year or so back, come here for the "up to 70% off goods at shopping malls in BKK

I'm sure other posters can add to all their wants.

Ask the tourist what they want here, They want reasonable prices, clean streets and beaches, safe internal travel, proper duty free on departure, NO SCAMS, no additional charges when leaving, no double pricing, all taxi's metered, no mafia tuk tuks, stable government and definatly not have to face alcohol bans on numerous days of the year (tourist areas at least).

This is what they want NOT your idea----LISTEN TAT to FEEDBACK.

Sorry no understand. Farang not know what he want or understand thai way.

[chooka]

Whoever is in charge of TAT you want to think a bit more, about the customer, YES the customer. Every week TAT blasts out what THEY want the customer to have-WRONG, Give the customer what THEY want and NEED on holiday.

Come here for OTOP ???

Come here if your Hi So

Come here for Honeymoon

I like this one from a year or so back, come here for the "up to 70% off goods at shopping malls in BKK

I'm sure other posters can add to all their wants.

Ask the tourist what they want here, They want reasonable prices, clean streets and beaches, safe internal travel, proper duty free on departure, NO SCAMS, no additional charges when leaving, no double pricing, all taxi's metered, no mafia tuk tuks, stable government and definatly not have to face alcohol bans on numerous days of the year (tourist areas at least).

This is what they want NOT your idea----LISTEN TAT to FEEDBACK.

Sorry no understand. Farang not know what he want or understand thai way.

[bridge2bridge]

Greed is the Mantra! hotels charging three to four normal prices. Make the most of it, winds of change are coming soon!

Yes Phuket is a good example.

The hotels charge at least DOUBLE during high season.

[kingstonkid]

So although Pattaya is supposed to be an area for many tourists there is nothing going on there??????????

[acajudi]

I will be in Thailand, but will never use Korean air in life! They know what they did and shame on them!

Singapore Air will be my only airline for they know how to treat passengers! Bali was wonderful! Please check your take out food for missing or half eaten shrimp, and buy whole fruit, fo Carreford sold rine on the watermelon, and only red in front. Pepsi is stale, and chips and cookies were stale. watch cab drivers and have small bills for change. The people were very nice, but I did bust hotel employees trying to come into my second floor apartment at Kuta a Residence, pretending to be fixing air conditioner below me at 11:30 p.m! They were knocking and trying my door also!

[Kooweerup]

Suthep calls for 2014 to be postponed indefinitely.

The People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) led by Self proclaimed ruler of Thailand Mr Suthep Thaugsuban has called for 2014 to be postponed indefinitely until caretaker Prime Minster Yingluk Shinawatra personally hands him her resignation along with a nice bottle of Grange Hermitage 1951

In his speech to the protesters, Mr Suthep said since Ms Yingluck had ignored the PDRC's "order", the committee had therefore issued an "additional order" Step down or there will be no New Year.

Suthep has stated that if Yingluk meets his demands and resigns then 2014 will arrive on schedule and he will hand himself into authorities on the 1st of January.

Can just imagine him saying that.

[kkerry]

 

I will be in Thailand, but will never use Korean air in life! They know what they did and shame on them!

Singapore Air will be my only airline for they know how to treat passengers! Bali was wonderful! Please check your take out food for missing or half eaten shrimp, and buy whole fruit, fo Carreford sold rine on the watermelon, and only red in front. Pepsi is stale, and chips and cookies were stale. watch cab drivers and have small bills for change. The people were very nice, but I did bust hotel employees trying to come into my second floor apartment at Kuta a Residence, pretending to be fixing air conditioner below me at 11:30 p.m! They were knocking and trying my door also!

 

I'm not sure if you will make it to the New Year Countdown... seems as if you have had more than enough to drink already... you will however be pleased to know Carrefour is no more in Thailand and EST is available in place of Pepsi...

[VegasVic]

Greed is the Mantra! hotels charging three to four normal prices. Make the most of it, winds of change are coming soon!

Hotels charging three to four times the normal price for New Years, sounds like New York, SF, Vegas and elsewhere around the globe at New Years hot spots

[VegasVic]

Suthep calls for 2014 to be postponed indefinitely.

The People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) led by Self proclaimed ruler of Thailand Mr Suthep Thaugsuban has called for 2014 to be postponed indefinitely until caretaker Prime Minster Yingluk Shinawatra personally hands him her resignation along with a nice bottle of Grange Hermitage 1951

In his speech to the protesters, Mr Suthep said since Ms Yingluck had ignored the PDRC's "order", the committee had therefore issued an "additional order" Step down or there will be no New Year.

Suthep has stated that if Yingluk meets his demands and resigns then 2014 will arrive on schedule and he will hand himself into authorities on the 1st of January.

Well said! Perhaps after the elections in Febuary the Thai legal system can finally get on with the murder indictment against suthep and abhisit

[RubbaJohnny]

A tourist promoter is promotng tourism,is this really news?

To be fair to the much maligned you have to be preety to good to con folks to spend their hard earned leisure money in a city with blood on streets embassy advisories and warning s to keep of the streets.

Perhaps a sewer tour like Paris is the answer,the sewer of local life the politics.The sh**s Insane in Seine.

Sorry forgot the linky for those who find theFrench ,Roquefort,Gaulloise and garlic insufficient stimulation for the olefactory records.

http://www.paris.fr/english/english/visit-the-paris-sewer-system/rub_8118_actu_130854_port_19237

I guess honest voting via machines or untraceable really anonymous voting would break the franchise buyers and rural fiefdoms or of course allow wise white ones to rule as was so sucessful in yore.All falangs to compusary vote and be paid double price,visa for life on entry to Thai marriage ,lapses after insufficent entry or divorce.