Buddhist spendings on religious days to exceed 10 billion baht this year

[Lite Beer]

Buddhist spendings on religious days to exceed 10 billion baht this year

BANGKOK: -- Buddhist spendings on religious products and necessary goods offered to monks and religious related activities this year will exceed 10 billion baht in total in three important religious days.

The three significant Buddhism days are Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha and Asalha Bucha (or Sangha day).
According to the survey of Buddhist spendings conducted by the research centre of the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce, it revealed that during important religious holidays, Thai people tend to spend more than usual.

For this year, the highest spendings by Buddhist people was on Asalha Bucha day, with the total spending amounting to 5.3 billion baht.

It said Visakha Bucha day ranked second for the highest spending on religious holidays at 5 billion baht, while spending on Makha Bucha Day only reached 2 billion baht this year.

However, UTCC’s research centre stressed that with the current sluggish domestic economy, spending on religious holidays will remain stable, with a slight decline, as shown by the figure of spending on Makha Bucha day.

The research centre stated that Thai Buddhists have spent most money on giving alms and making merits on religious holidays, followed by spending on purchasing necessities to give to monks or to participate in the lighting candle activity.

It also reported that some have also spent their money on domestic traveling, while others would opt to travel abroad during long holidays.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/buddhist-spendings-on-religious-days-to-exceed-10-billion-baht-this-year

-- Thai PBS 2015-07-31

[PatOngo]

Almost one Chinese submarine.

[JeffreyO]

Religion is always big business.

[halloween]

Not unusual that the highest spending on religion takes place amongst those who can least afford it.

[ThailandGuy]

It used to be the same in most European countries before the eighties.... But since people got more and more and better education they lost their faith in religion. I wonder if the same thing will happen in Asia or maybe the Buddhism religion is stronger then the ones in Europe.

[ChrisY1]

So in reality, regardless of the Buddha holiday and the solemnity of this time of the year........it's really all about money........

[Dap]

Merry Xmas, etc

[wabothai]

I asked my mia whether she thought that Buddha had a wallet. No answer.

[slapout]

I think people of all relgions spend more on their special religious holidays, its just that the Thais have been brain washed into to believing that their birhday, marriage, new house, new car, motorbike, family birth and death, droughts, floods etc are happenings that are special, and that they rquire attandance at temple or by monk/s off temple grounds as monks or buddism is the answer to all questions/problems.

I always figured a Thai language ''Farmers alamac'' would be a real money maker here, then you realize most of the farmers can not read well enough to decipher all information, predictions, etc that are in the book and it is changed each year.(somewhat) It sure would save a lot of trips and donations that are deemed necessary in todays population.

Edited July 31, 2015 by slapout

[kinmaew]

Complete waste of money and time. How about spending this truckload of cash on some hospital beds for the poor rather than having to rely on "Farang help poor Thai family" sceanario mamma pappa operation needed etc - WAKE up!!

[willyumiii]

It could be 20 billion if they did not ban the sale of booze!

[tonbridgebrit]

Christmas provides a boost to retail spending in Europe, and Buddhist holidays provide a much needed boost to Thailand's retailers and economy.

Is this what Thailand needs ? Lots of, or more holidays, to boost and for a stimulus to the economy ? Other countries carry out stimulus pakages, Thailand simply needs religious holidays to do the same thing.

[ChrisY1]

Once upon a time....this time of year was a special occasion.........but Thais changed...and money started to rule their lives............the buddha now takes a back seat for most.............

[tajtom]

Oh my BUDDHA

[Pattaya28]

10 Billion Baht !! Really !!

Where does this figure come from ??

The same Monkeys Bum that all the "pie-in-the-sky" stats are plucked from.

How can this 10 Billion Baht be quantified ??

Edited July 31, 2015 by Pattaya28

[khaowong1]

A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon your talking about some real money.

[sammygood]

no need to pay tax when u are in the religious business

thailand, USA, just look at the rich preachers.... god spoke to me and he said i need a new rolls royce, a new jet, a new villa ....

[phoenixdoglover]

According to one source, the Thai economy (GDP) is about USD 380 billion.

That's about 13 Trillion Baht.

At 10 Billion Baht, religious holiday spending represents about 0.08% of the economy.

Another day wasted on useless trivia.