CentralWorld, siam paragon compete for festive crowd

Two of Bangkok's major shopping malls - CentralWorld and Siam Paragon - are competing to draw crowds at separate New Year countdown events tomorrow night.

More than 500,000 visitors are expected to gather at Rajprasong and Rama I roads as the two complexes - within easy walking distance of each another - celebrate the end of 2008 and the beginning of the New Year.

Central Pattana (CPN), operator of CentralWorld, will be joined by CM Event in hosting its annual countdown party, this year named "Hands Bangkok Countdown 2009".

Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana, executive vice president for marketing at CPN, said the company believed the countdown would be colourful.

"The people now have a greater mood for celebration, as they have more confidence in the local political situation. About 500 VIP seats for the CentralWorld countdown party are now fully booked," he said.

CPN claims its event is the only official New Year countdown, with support from the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. It will be broadcast on Channel 7 from 4.30pm to 12.30am.

"Although many people will drive upcountry for the long holiday - enjoying the benefit of low oil prices - we believe many others will stay in town because they don't want the burden of high living costs. CentralWorld's countdown is the only choice for those who remain in Bangkok to celebrate the New Year," Nattakit said.

Sermkhun Kunawong, chief executive of CM Organiser, CM Event's parent company, said his company was spending Bt20 million for the "Hands Bangkok Countdown 2009". It plans to promote Bangkok as a major Asean landmark in all aspects of popular interest, including tourism, fashion, culture and entertainment.

The countdown has been planned in accordance with the "Hands by Heart" concept. A 16-metre Greeting-Ball Tower has been erected as the symbol of the countdown. Costing Bt25 million, the tower will feature lighting effects and be the focal point for a midnight fireworks display. The countdown party will then continue with an all-night concert.

Siam Paragon, which is celebrating its third anniversary, began its countdown party on December 10, launching a nightly series of music concerts that will end in the early hours of 2009. The event is called "Siam Paragon Parclive! 09, Cool the World Countdown by Singha", co-hosted by Siam Paragon and Singha.

The 22-day celebration is featuring musical styles from jazz and rhythm and blues to pop, rock and soul, with performers including Nuvo, Pancake, Crescendo, The Star, favourites Bee and Ar, ETC, Groove Riders, Lula and Calories Blah Blah.

Siam Paragon Development executive chief marketing officer Kriengsak Tantiphipop said that over the past three years, Siam Paragon had been acclaimed by Thais and tourists alike as a world-class shopping destination.

"We're proud to be recognised around the world as an icon of high-end shopping and entertainment and pleased to celebrate our third anniversary as a New Year gift to the public," he said.

Meanwhile, the Kasikorn Research Centre (KResearch) has been studying ways that Thais plan to send their New Year greetings. It says 73.5 per cent of Bangkokians plan to send messages via mobile phones, up from 60.4 per cent who chose this method last year.

The research centre's survey questioned 520 Bangkok respondents between November 24 and December 12.

It found that 87.5 per cent of respondents sending New Year greetings via mobile-phone SMS, 12.6 per cent will send MMS greetings, and 5.3 per cent will send both.

KResearch predicts Thais will spend Bt27 billion during the New Year holidays.