At least Bt23.1b expected to be spent by Bangkokians during New Year

BANGKOK, December 18 (TNA) - The Kasikorn Research Centre (KRC) has predicted that spending during the upcoming New Year festival by people in Bangkok alone should total at least 23.1 billion baht, a 8.5 per cent increase from last year. The leading private Thai think tank foresaw that Bangkokians' spending on food and beverage should total at 6.5 billion baht, or 28.1 per cent, followed by 5.2 billion baht on cash gifts to their families' members, or 22.5 per cent, at 4.5 billion baht on travels, or 19.5 per cent, at 4.1 billion baht on New Year presents, or 17.7 per cent, and at 2.7 billion baht on merit makings, or 11.7 per cent, and at 100 million baht on others, or 0.4 per cent. The Bangkok-based research firm said almost 90 per cent of Bangkokians have planned New Year celebrations despite rising costs of living and declining purchasing power and shopping mood caused by impacts from the ongoing domestic political strife. According to the KRC, gift baskets should be, again, top of the list as the most popular New Year gift, followed by food supplements, as well as clothes and personal items. Besides, popular activities for Bangkokians during the New Year should include joining New Year parties with their friends,returning to their home provinces for a reunion with their families and buying gifts for other people. As most people in the capital appear to be more careful in their spending, the KRC suggested that entrepreneurs use discounts as a sale promotion to stimulate their New Year trade. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport announced that it is providing New Year travelers with free check-ups for their vehicles, from December 18-30, 2013. as part of nationwide road safety campaigns during the New Year festival. Under the program, launched by Caretaker Deputy Transport Minister Pong Cheewanan on Wednesday, the ministry has joined forces with over 2,000 private transport-related businesses and motorcycle dealers, as well as the Ministry of Education's Vocational Education Commission in providing free thorough check-ups of vehicles before their New Year journeys.(TNA)