A fortune for the fortune-tellers

When people are in love, they want to know if their relationships will last long. Or when they divorce, they want to know if they'll be able to find new love soon.

The Kasikorn Research Centre (KResearch) yesterday reported fortune-telling and related businesses generated revenue of about Bt2.5 billion last year.

A fortune-telling session can cost from less than Bt100 to thousands, depending on the credibility of the fortune-teller. If a seer predicts something spectacularly right, he

will hit the jackpot. And his service price will skyrocket.

However, gurus not only tell fortunes, but also suggest that their clients follow certain instructions to ward off bad luck. And that, at times, can cost a lot of money.

KResearch also warned of conmen who try to extort money from customers.

In fact, fortune-telling is an interesting business, because it continues to flourish during good times and bad. During the good times, people's optimism stirs curiosity about their future. Bad times stir their curiosity even more. Or else, they are desperate to talk to fortune-tellers to vent their worries and discontent.

KResearch conducted a survey among 1,824 Bangkokians from December 1-16 and found they spent Bt2.5 billion on fortune-telling: Bt1.8 billion on the service itself and another Bt700 million on related services.

Of this, Bt500 million was spent following the advice of fortune-tellers and another Bt200 million on books, tapes and astrology materials.

Given the Bt500-million fortune doled out to fortune-tellers to concoct occult stratagems to ward off bad luck, KResearch warned customers to be careful they did not fall victim to conmen. But some people don't mind spending a few bucks to boost their morale.

Nonetheless, unscrupulous fortune tellers try to take unfair advantage of desperate people. And you don't deserve to suffer double bad luck!

busdsk@nationgroup.com

The Nation