Three of Bangkok's major exhibition centres have had no cancellations or requests for events to be postponed despite last week's coup.

The Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC), Impact Muang Thong Thani and the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC), all of which have bookings up until December or later, report that their business has not been affected by the military takeover.

Representatives from all three organisations considered the coup to be a political reform. They said that thanks to coverage by the international media, foreigners seemed to understand that the military's action was a positive move that will not lead to violence.

"Actually, on the night of the coup, the QSNCC and Volvo both decided to continue with an event to launch Volvo's new model. Since that night, Thais seems to be okay with the political change," said Busakorn Kaewmorakot, public relations and communications manager of National Convention Centre Manage-ment & Development Co Ltd.

Apart from the private sector, annual events of government agencies are also to go ahead as planned. Such events are usually booked years in advance so it is likely the government agencies involved would be hesitant to cancel, said representatives of the three exhibition centres.

International bookings, from organisations based in Singapore, China, Canada and Australia, have likewise been retained.

Some major events being held at the exhibition centres in the next few months include the Bangkok Inter-national Fashion Fair and Bangkok International Leather Fair, which are being held at BITEC at the end of this month; the China International Construction and Decoration Fair and the performance of "My Dream" by the China Disabled People's Performance Art Troupe, which are being held at Impact Arena November 16-18 and November 18-19 respectively; and the 11th Book Expo Thailand, which is being held during October 18-29 at QSNCC.

Today, Impact Arena will play host to some 50,000 Thammasat University students who will be sitting their exams at the centre. However, although the exhibition centres remain confident of achieving their financial targets by the end of the year, all said they were waiting to see what direction the Council for Democracy Reform under Constitutional Monarchy will take.

"It's too soon to predict the outlook for next year because the coup just happened few days ago, but we hope everything will return to normal and maybe even improve the political, social and economical situations, which would eventually boost our business," said Busakorn.

 Nitida Asawanipont,

 Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul

 The Nation