Cautionary spending on Chinese Lunar New Year festivities in Thailand

The Bangkok Post reports that more people will be more cautious about spending for the festivities for the Chinese Lunar New Year on 31 January, and the week leading up to the New Year (January 24, 2013).

Consumer spending in Thailand is expected to increase slightly on last year’s figures, but many say that they will be cautious about spending due to present political uncertainties.

A University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) survey – a poll of 1,200 people nationwide from January 16-21 - estimates that spending over the festive season will increase by 5.9%, but this is low compared with the 12.3% in 2013 (from 2012 figures). Spending for the 2013 festivities were the highest since 2006 due to higher wages, tourism, and better overall economic growth.

The survey also indicated that most people said they were likely to stay home for the celebrations, rather than travel. This was because most people were concerned about political disruptions, especially in Bangkok, traffic difficulties due to the protests, burglary, and higher priced goods.

The UTCC maintains that the Bangkok shutdown campaign – “Shutdown Bangkok, Restart Thailand” – will result in economic losses of around 700 million baht per day. The Stock Exchange of Thailand has remained stable during the campaign, but if foreign investor concerns are raised in the lead up to the February 2 election, this may result in losses.

In the week before the Chinese Lunar New Year – that will commence the Year of the Wooden Horse – people have been buying red ornaments, such as lanterns, fans and red horses, as well as stocking up on celebratory food – especially duck, chicken, noodles, and oranges. Gift purchases are high – especially red and gold items, horse-shoes, jewellery, keyrings and lucky charms.

Comments

Pir-E-Kamil - The Perfect Mentor by Umera Ahmed: book review

The Perfect Mentor pbuh (2011) is set in Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan. The novel commences with Imama Mubeen in medical university. She wants to be an eye specialist. Her parents have arranged for her to marry her first cousin Asjad. Salar Sikander, her neighbour, is 18 years old with an IQ of 150+ and a photographic memory. He has long hair tied in a ponytail. He imbibes alcohol, treats women disrespectfully and is generally a “weird chap” and a rude, belligerent teenager. In the past three years he has tried to commit suicide three times. He tries again. Imama and her brother, Waseem, answer the servant’s call to help Salar. They stop the bleeding from his wrist and save his life. Imama and Asjad have been engaged for three years, because she wants to finish her studies first. Imama is really delaying her marriage to Asjad because she loves Jalal Ansar. She proposes to him and he says yes. But he knows his parents won’t agree, nor will Imama’s parents. ...

Sister cities discussed: Canberra and Islamabad

Two months ago, in March 2015, Australia and Pakistan agreed to explore ways to deepen ties. The relationship between Australia and Pakistan has been strong for decades, and the two countries continue to keep dialogues open. The annual bilateral discussions were held in Australia in March to continue engagements on a wide range of matters of mutual interest. The Pakistan delegation discussed points of interest will include sports, agriculture, economic growth, trade, border protection, business, and education. The possible twinning of the cities of Canberra, the capital of Australia, and Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, were also on the agenda (i.e. called twin towns or sister cities). Sister City relationships are twinning arrangements that build friendships as well as government, business, culture, and community linkages. Canberra currently has international Sister City relationships with Beijing in China and Nara in Japan. One example of existing...

The acacia thorn trees of Kenya

There are nearly 800 species of acacia trees in the world, and most don’t have thorns. The famous "whistling thorn tree" and the Umbrella Thorn tree of Kenya are species of acacia that do have thorns, or spines. Giraffes and other herbivores normally eat thorny acacia foliage, but leave the whistling thorn alone. Usually spines are no deterrent to giraffes. Their long tongues are adapted to strip the leaves from the branches despite the thorns. The thorny acacia like dry and hot conditions. The thorns typically occur in pairs and are 5-8 centimetres (2-3 inches) long. Spines can be straight or curved depending on the species. MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Suda...

FEAST OR FAMINE

Search This Blog