Spending splurge expected at vegetarian festival

Spending splurge expected at vegetarian festival

People buy vegetarian food in Bangkok's Chinatown area during the vegetarian festival last year. A survey concluded that spending during this year's festival would show the biggest increase in the last three years. (Photo by Pornprom Satrabhaya)
People buy vegetarian food in Bangkok's Chinatown area during the vegetarian festival last year. A survey concluded that spending during this year's festival would show the biggest increase in the last three years. (Photo by Pornprom Satrabhaya)

Spending at this year's vegetarian festival is expected to be the highest in recent years, spurred by the growing popularity of vegetarian dishes, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

The prediction was drawn from an opinion survey involving 1,206 respondents between Sept 19 and 27. It concluded about 43.98 billion baht would change hands during the 10-day festival from Oct 1 to 9.

This would be an increase of 4.2% on last year, better than the increments of 2.9% last year and 2.1% in 2014, said UTCC vice president Thanavath Phonvichai.

The survey found that 35.5% of respondents planned to eat vegetarian dishes during the period and their purchases of vegetarian food would increase by 40%, both by volume and value, he said.

The increase grew out of people's intention to make merit and eat healthy foods, he said.

However, 67% said they would not travel in the festival, while 33% would spend a few days on merit-making trips.

The largest group of the potential travellers, or 38%, said they would visit the Central Plains and the East, while 24% planned to go to the South.

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