ID :
341810
Fri, 09/19/2014 - 08:24
Auther :

Over Bt51b expected to be circulated during Thailand's Vegetarian Festival 2014

BANGKOK, September 19 (TNA) - More than 51 billion baht is expected to be changed hands during Thailand's upcoming Vegetarian Festival 2014. Thanawat Polvichai, Director of Bangkok-based University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s Economic and Business Forecasting Centre, made the assessment on Thursday. Thanawat told reporters that, as the Vegetarian Festival will be observed twice this year, the first time in 182 years, with the first round to start from September 24 to October 2 and the second round from October 24 to November 1, people's spending during the first round is expected at 8,943 baht each and the second round at 7,925 baht each. Thanawat foresaw that people's spending during this year's Vegetarian Festival should, therefore, total over 51.2 billion baht. Thanawat acknowledged that more people have switched to consume vegetarian food during the annual festival, but most of them prefer to cook by themselves to save their money, as the prices of vegetatian food at restaurants have increased sharply. Compared to last year’s when people observed the Vegetarian Festival once, the senior economist pointed out, the money spent totaled over 40 billion baht. According to the director, money expected to be circulated during this year's Vegetarian Festival is, thus, considered the lowest in seven years due to rising food prices. A recent survey by the centre found, meanwhile, that people wanted the government to help control food prices, ban sale of alcoholic drinks and provide sufficient security to international tourists during the Vegetarian Festival. (TNA)

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