More help is on the way for riot-hit retailers to sell their products and pare down inventories after the success of the Silom walking street campaign last weekend.
TOURISM HELP
Many small tourism operators affected by the red-shirt protests sign up to seek assistance from the coordinating centre set up by the Tourism Council of Thailand. About 300 operators reportedly are signing up for the aid at the ground floor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand offices each day. WEERAWONG WONGPREEDEE
Both the government and operators are looking to tap consumers' eagerness to help revive business by shopping.
Thaya Theepsuwan, a Bangkok deputy governor, said a second walking street would be set up in front of Siam Paragon from the Henri Dunant intersection to MBK on Saturday and Sunday. Another Silom walking street - the first one generated 140 million baht in sales - will be staged on June 12-13.
"The retailers who missed the chance to join the first Silom walking street will be offered space in a new 800-metre walking street [near Paragon]," she said.
The Commerce Ministry also plans to expand a walking street dubbed "Together We Can Grand Sale" every weekend to provincial areas until July to stimulate shopping and tourism.
Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai said the aim was to help entrepreneurs affected by the riots and arson attacks in the capital following the dispersal of the red-shirt protests on May 19. The events will be held in Pattaya on June 5-6, Nonthaburi from June 12-13, and in Nakhon Sawan from June 19-20.
Affected businesses would also be allowed to join other trade fairs to be held throughout June by the ministry in border provinces such as Mukdahan and Tak.
In a bid to revive confidence of traders and foreign visitors in the Ratchaprasong shopping hub, the ministry also plans to organise a world-class fashion show in October or November, featuring international brands such as Fendi, Louis Vuitton and other internationally renowned products and international supermodels.
Chulalongkorn University, which owns Siam Square, is arranging temporary tents in Siam Square sois 1, 2 and 3 covering 3,000 square metres to allow retailers hit by the fires and riots to sell non-food goods. Food operators will be offered to use empty shophouses covering 3,000 sq m along Henri Dunant Road, and 10 tutorial schools will be offered space at a parking lot at the Novotel Siam Square.
The temporary retail space, which opened since last week, will be available for two years pending the redevelopment of 40,000 sq m to replace the Siam Theatre, which was destroyed on May 19.
"The space is free of charge for just a period of time, not two years, and Chulalongkorn University will decide how long is the free period," said the university's vice-president, Gp Capt Permyot Kosolbhand.
Arena in Thong Lor Soi 10, a football field owned by Oishi Group CEO Tan Passakornnatee, is also offering free space until June 6. Over the past weekend, bargain-hunting shoppers thronged Arena for products ranging from clothes to bags, shoes and toys.
Central Retail Corp yesterday also announced a new offering of free space at Baan Silom Arcade for three months to help riot-hit businesses sell their goods.
It also offered 1,500 sq m at Tops Marketplace Udomsuk free of charge for small retailers. Those renting 700 sq m at China World Wang Burapha will pay only electricity bills. Another 300 sq m at Power Centre Hua Mark are available at cheap rents of 200 baht per day.
A CRC spokeswoman said most of the affected retailers were now heading for the walking streets held by the BMA. After that, they will seek space from private operators.
The Mall Group, meanwhile, will stage a fair at Bitec from tomorrow to Sunday to allow its suppliers and other affected retailers to distribute their inventories.
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