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Published on October 2, 2007

Marketing director Satima Tanabe yesterday said Japanese shoppers had decreased 20-30 per cent since early this year. One reason is worry of possible unrest caused by political uncertainty in Thailand. She also cited statistics from the Tourism Authority of Thailand that Japanese shoppers had decreased 5 per cent in Bangkok and 30 per cent in Phuket.

She expects Japanese shoppers to return next year once the political situation stabilises after the elections. There is no plan to draw the Japanese back, because they are keeping away due to external factors.

The yen has also weakened significantly against the baht, making trips here more expensive. While the number of shoppers from other Asian nations remain stagnant, Gaysorn has welcomed an increase in shoppers from the UAE and Eastern Europe, particularly those from Russia, who spend more than the Japanese.

Data from Gaysorn tenants show that shoppers from the UAE spend as high as Bt100,000 per time per person to buy up to 10 pieces, while the average spending of Japanese shoppers was Bt50,000 to buy one to three pieces.

Foreign shoppers represent 40 per cent of all Gaysorn shoppers, the majority of them from the UAE, followed by Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Satima said that in the first six months of the year, spending at Gaysorn had risen 15 per cent year on year, and she expects this growth rate to continue throughout the year.

Gaysorn will introduced new magnets, starting with fashion items and moving on to the food and beverage segment.

It will start building awareness for a third magnet - home decoration - by launching the Design World Festival @ Gaysorn campaign. The campaign consists of three phases - a Towards the Value of Thai Wisdom exhibition, a gift fair and Design Gallery and Home Ideas - which will gradually be arranged from today to next January 15.

At the same time, Gaysorn is adjusting its home decoration department, which will have many new brands by the end of the year, Satima said.

Satima added that Gaysorn would continue new strategies and lifestyle services next year.

Nitida Asawanipont

 The Nation