Thailand will host two world-class music festivals, "Summer Sonic" and "Tomorrowland", as the government aims to turn the country into a festival hub and host several other international festivals and events in the future.
Government spokesman Chai Watcharonke said Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin wants to boost Thailand's potential as a host to world-famous festivals in a bid to increase economic activities in the country.
As part of the policy, the prime minister has met the executives of companies that organise such festivals, including Formula One Group, Formula E and Art Basel, and has achieved results by reaching agreements to allow Thailand to host certain events, said Mr Chai.
The spokesman said Thailand has sealed a deal to host Summer Sonic, one of the world's most successful music festivals from Japan.
It will be organised in the kingdom on Aug 24-25 at IMPACT Arena after the shows in Tokyo and Osaka.
The festival will mark the second time it has been organised outside Japan, he said.
"It will be the first time the Summer Sonic will be hosted by a Southeast Asian country," he said.
In addition, Thailand will host Tomorrowland, a well-known electronic dance music (EDM) festival from Belgium, in 2026, and is likely to host it for the next nine consecutive years, Mr Chai said.
Mr Srettha, he said, has been in talks with several other event organisers to bring the world's most popular festivals to Thailand and has obtained good results, which indicates Thailand's potential and the readiness of its infrastructure.
"The prime minister is pushing for this by himself in his bid to promote Thailand as a host to important world-class events," Mr Chai said.
"It is an extra tool that will provide economic benefits for Thai citizens in the form of income."