Internal politics may be dividing Thailand into the election-haves and the election-have nots, but that won’t stop people from laying down their burdens to ring in the New Year.
Thai consumers will splurge and spend THB111.7 billion on festivities, a 5.6 percent increase over last year, according to a forecast by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
Of that number, almost THB13 billion will be spent on consumer goods, THB8.2 billion on parties and THB700 million for luxury goods, said university Rector Saowanee Thairungroj.
Those seeking improved spiritual capital will splash out THB8.9 billion on merit making.
And most plan to travel. Although 40 percent of those surveyed said they’d remain at home, 6 in 10 plan to travel in the country or abroad, with about THB50 billion in domestic travel and THB28.8 spent for travel outside Thailand, Bangkok Post reported.
Photo: Amani Hasan
