BANGKOK, April 22 — Business operators in Bangkok’s world-class Ratchaprasong shopping district have launched a “Living Arts Festival 2014” to draw both local and foreign tourists to the formerly protest-plagued zone.
“Living Arts Festival 2014@Ratchaprasong” runs from May 2 through June 8, in hopes of restoring confidence among tourists.
The event is a cooperation between the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the private sector, and is being promoted as Ratchaprasong’s trademark event.
TAT executive Noppadol Phakphod said today the event features outdoor 3D and 4D street-art creations by world-class street artists. The event is expected to draw as many ten million visitors, with Bt6.5 billion forecast in circulation during the period.
Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA) marketing communications director Korakot Srivikorn said that last year’s event received positive feedback from visitors.
She said the event is expected to welcome about 250,000-270,000 visitors a day after the government lifted the emergency decree but the sales have not risen due to slow economic recovery and high household debt.
Ms Korakot said that Ratchaprasong has so far been unable to lure tourists back, and hotel occupancy rates fell to only 70 per cent from 80 per cent in the same period last year.
