Everybody wants a piece of THB230 billion ‘rainbow economy’

[reader]

From The Nation

Thailand’s private sector is gearing up to be a part of Pride month events in June to celebrate equality and rights of gender diversity groups, also known as the LGBTQIAN+.

The organisation of pride activities is in line with the government’s plan of making Thailand a tourist destination with world-class festivals and events under the Ignite Thailand initiative.

Analysts estimate that the rainbow economy, revolving around gender diverse people, could generate up to 230 billion baht revenue per year, thanks to members of LGBTQIAN+ groups who have around 40% more purchasing power than average tourists.

Thanks to the recently approved equal marriage bill, Thailand now has the potential to become Asia’s largest pride destination and landmark, and the fourth biggest in the world, especially if the kingdom is selected to host the World Pride 2030 event, said experts.

Riding on this trend, operators of major shopping centres are planning pride-related events across June to attract visitors to Bangkok and other provinces where pride activities will be hosted.

Central Pattana Plc, operator of Central department stores, recently announced ‘Thailand’s Pride Celebration 2024’ event, to be held at 24 Central shopping malls nationwide.

Held under the concept ”pride for all”, the event aims to celebrate diversity, equality and inclusion throughout the month of June, said chief marketing officer Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana.

He said the main highlight would be the fashion parade, “Rhythm of Pride”, with over 500 celebrities as a part of Bangkok Pride Festival 2024 at Central World shopping mall. Participants will also enjoy concerts, digital art exhibition, and pride market that showcases products designed for LGBTQIAN+ consumers.

Nattakit estimated that Central’s pride activities in June will attract up to 800,000 visitors to Central shopping mall nationwide, increasing from around 520,000 visitors recorded in the same period last year.

Around 160,000 people are expected to participate in the main event at Central World, he added.

Meanwhile, Siam Piwat, the operator of Siam Centre, Siam Discovery, Siam Paragon and Iconsiam malls, announced its “Celebration: Right to Love” campaign throughout June to celebrate Pride month.

Saruntorn Asaves, head of Siam Piwat’s shopping centre business, said the campaign would be a part of Bangkok Pride Festival 2024 to celebrate Thailand becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to approve the equal marriage bill.

“Pride Month activities will help boost the economy and tourism industry in Bangkok, which is the capital of diversity that welcomes visitors of all lifestyles and interests,” he said.

Saruntorn said the celebrations would be held at all shopping malls of Siam Piwat from May 31 to mark Pride month and to welcome participants of Bangkok Pride Parade from around the world on June 1.

From May 31 to June 4, Siam Paragon will host over 20 seminar with speakers from LGBTQ+ and women’s groups at SCBX Next Tech. Meanwhile, Thailand’s and Asia’s first drag concert festival will be held at Parc Paragon from May 31 to June 3.

Iconsiam will host the Pride Out Loud exhibition from June 1-18 to showcase artworks and art toys by LGBTQ+ and LGBTQ-friendly artists amid the backdrop of rainbow-colour waterfall as part of the mall’s iconic multimedia water show.

[jason1975]

13 minutes ago, reader said:

Analysts estimate that the rainbow economy, revolving around gender diverse people, could generate up to 230 billion baht revenue per year, thanks to members of LGBTQIAN+ groups who have around 40% more purchasing power than average tourists.

40% more purchasing power? But most of that money doesn't go to shopping malls! They go to massages and bars!

[bkkmfj2648]

1 hour ago, jason1975 said:

40% more purchasing power? But most of that money doesn't go to shopping malls! They go to massages and bars!

Jason this is SO true what you wrote.

When I was with Vinapu last week, my Jomtien gay volleyball friends were all going crazy that I agreed to go with Vinapu alone to discover the spicy delicacies of Bangkok (massages and go-go bars, etc.).  They all said to me, why you go with farang - bring us to Bangkok and we show you a good time.

I replied, NO-WAY - because you will all take me to go shopping at the shopping malls and to go to fancy BKK restaurants so you can upload all of the photos to impress your social media "friends" and I get to pay for all of this with ZERO orgasms for me = NO way!!!

I told them that if I go with Vinapu, I am:

  - guaranteed to have an orgasm every day - unfortunately I do not have Vinapu's stamina for 3 per day,

 - I only need to pay for myself (and of course the boy(s) that I would off or invite to my room),

 - no need to get tired walking in a million luxurious BKK shopping malls and seeing all of the delicious eye candy with no potential orgasms,

 - receive excellent training on how the sex industry works in BKK from Vinapu (my Thai friends continue to pretend to act as if the Thai sex industry is not important or does not exist - so frustrating - they are not even taught in school how much all of this helps their Thai GDP economy - especially with all of the knock on industries [ hotels, entertainment centers, restaurants, other non sex services, etc.] )

So, I left them on the beach to play volleyball and I had 6 wonderful days in BKK with our illustrious Vinapu.

[Travellerdave]

No doubt gays have higher spending power compared with str visitors to Thailand. However for this gay, my spending power is directed, like bkkmfj2648’s more towards boys and associated bars/massages rather than shopping malls or expensive resort hotels. When making a purchase I am usually to be found in markets, like the one in Soi Buakhow, Pattaya. However I will no doubt visit malls if I hear there is anything in them of interest to myself.

[gayinpattaya]

3 hours ago, reader said:

From The Nation

also known as the LGBTQIAN+.

 

Who the fuck is IAN?

[CallMeLee]

6 hours ago, jason1975 said:

40% more purchasing power? But most of that money doesn't go to shopping malls! They go to massages and bars!

Yes. However, the $ our boy and masseur du jour earns from us will give them purchasing power to spend it on..... wait for it......shopping malls!

It's the circle of life! 😁 

[reader]

2 hours ago, gayinpattaya said:

Who the fuck is IAN?

Oddly, it just the other day that Ian remarked, “who the fuck is GayinPattaya?”

And then some wise ass chimed in, “The guy who still owes me a drink.”

[macaroni21]

It's not just the Thais, I see a lot of gay tourists from China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, etc in Bangkok's shopping malls too. They tend to be the younger set though.

As for the commercialisation of Pride Month, which is really what the opening story is about, if you know Thailand, it's going to be gatoey, gatoey, gatoey. 

[floridarob]

12 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

I told them that if I go with Vinapu, I am:

  - guaranteed to have an orgasm every day - unfortunately I do not have Vinapu's stamina for 3 per day,

Didin't realize @vinapu had sex with Farangs....did he learn this from olddaddy?

 

 

7 hours ago, reader said:

And then some wise ass chimed in, “The guy who still owes me a drink.”

It's a cheeseburger he still owes me, get it right 😝

[gayinpattaya]

8 hours ago, reader said:

Oddly, it just the other day that Ian remarked, “who the fuck is GayinPattaya?”

And then some wise ass chimed in, “The guy who still owes me a drink.”

Well that reply was about as useful as the vagina flavour cardboard "chips" that old bloke sell in Jomtien Complex.
Who the fuck is Ian? 

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, floridarob said:

Didin't realize @vinapu had sex with Farangs...

Since when one needs to have sex to get an orgasm ?

[bkkmfj2648]

11 hours ago, vinapu said:

Since when one needs to have sex to get an orgasm ?

is this another Vinapu invention - like the "Vinapu tuck"??

sexless orgasm ???

[jason1975]

19 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

It's not just the Thais, I see a lot of gay tourists from China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, etc in Bangkok's shopping malls too. They tend to be the younger set though.

As for the commercialisation of Pride Month, which is really what the opening story is about, if you know Thailand, it's going to be gatoey, gatoey, gatoey. 

Yes, the Thais are more accepting of katoey than the "normal" straightlooking gay guy. Their Pride Month activities seem more catered to katoey.