Bangkok, 13 July, 2014 –
The primary business and shopping district of downtown Bangkok is to be
converted into a giant festival of happiness, joy, fun and Thai smiles
over the 25-26 July weekend as part of a big-bang effort to show the world that Thai tourism is more than back to normal.
In an extravaganza
never before held in Thailand, the entire Ratchaprasong area will come
alive with colourful parades, great shopping, fashion shows, concerts
and culinary delights from 15.00 hrs to midnight on both days. The theme “Thailand Happiness” will be lived up
to the hilt.
to the hilt.
Tourism Authority of
Thailand Governor Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik said, “This event will be
unmatched in the annals of Thai tourism. Along with our project
partners, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (TG) and the
Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association, we are going to make this the
biggest and best back-to-normal party Thailand has ever seen.”
 |
 |
Although its primary
objective is to convey a powerful message that the Thai tourism industry
is back to normal, the event has an equally potent purpose to help
bring the smiles back to the faces of the Thai people after several
months of uncertainty.
On both days, there
will be a Happiness Concert featuring performances by contemporary
musicians and traditional Thai folk singers, accompanied by
sound-and-light theatrics at the CentralWorld Square. At the Happy Gift
Market, visitors will find everything from antique products to trendy,
brand-name clothes and fashion items. One section, called “Stars on the
Street” will have booths manned by Thai celebrities and TV superstars
selling footwear, T-shirts, green gourmet, boutique apparel and even
Thai desserts.
Another section,
called Happiness Surprise will allow visitors to take Instagram pictures
of smiling faces and place them in giant gift boxes. After getting
5,000 smiling pictures, the boxes will be opened and the best smiles
will get surprise rewards.
The Happiness Activity
will have free ice-cream containers where participants have to help
each other to get ice-cream, but in a totally different way. There
will also be “Happiness balloons” and opportunities to win cute gifts or
prepaid mobile cards worth 50 Baht. In the evening, there will be a
parade of heroes with food, fashion, flowers and folk songs. Music
performances will continue at the main stage until midnight.
Mr. Thawatchai said,
“This is going to be the mother of all bounce-back parties. We invite
people from all around the world to join us in what will be a
once-in-a-lifetime event, even better than our New Year Countdowns.”
He noted that visitors
can also stay on for a few days in Bangkok after the event to take
advantage of the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale now under way at dozens of
department stores, shopping malls, restaurants, spas, and other retail
outlets in the Thai capital and nationwide.
“We know that Thailand
has many friends and supporters worldwide, especially amongst our
neighbours in the ASEAN countries. For them, Bangkok is only a short
flying time away. It will be a really good opportunity for them to join
us in showing the ASEAN spirit of friendship and fraternity,” he added.
Other event partners
include the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Ministry of Interior,
airlines, Thai Hotels Association, Thai Restaurant Association,
Association of Thai Travel Agents and several other public and private
sector organisations.
In the last week of
July, TAT and TG will set the biggest ever fam trip “The Thailand’s Best
Friends Forever (Thailand’s BFF) for a total of at least 800 members of
the media, bloggers, and travel agents from all over the world to
convene in Bangkok at the welcome reception on 25 July
at the Bangkok Convention Centre, Centara Grand Hotel at CentralWorld,
as well as joining the “Thailand Happiness” street festival before
travelling to various parts of the kingdom to experience for themselves
the many tourist attractions and services the country has to offer. In
addition, this event encourages the people to pass over the message that
Thailand awaits to welcome all visitors with an abundance of
destinations and cordially invites all tourists to enjoy a vacation here
as always.
