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Say ‘I love you’ and rose to the occasion
A stupendous Bt2.16 bn will be spent on special gifts, a poll says

BANGKOK: — Love may be sweet - but it’s not cheap and it’s subject to inflation. Thais are expected to spend Bt2.16 billion this Valentine’s Day, mostly on flowers, greeting cards, chocolates, gifts, and dolls.

They will also splash out at restaurants, cinemas and karaoke parlours, according to a poll by University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

Based on a per capita basis, people will spend an average of Bt1,282 on Valentine’s Day. The 30-39 age group is expected to spend the most at Bt1,756, and the 19-22 age group the least at Bt709.

The UTCC poll covering 1,223 respondents nationwide was conducted from February 8-10. Its finding showed that though the spending is 15.1 per cent up from Bt1.87 billion last year, the higher spending is due to the increase in product prices.

The poll showed that respondents shared the same view that festival prices had spiked - particularly for flowers and other gifts.

Another survey by GE Money, covering 3,115 employees in Asian countries, showed that Thais are likely to spend the least among Asian employees on the day, with 54 per cent of women and 49 per cent of men indicating an average spend of up to US$50 (Bt1,600).

Dinner was chosen as the “preferred” option for Valentine’s Day by 58 per cent of women and 74 per cent of men, followed by gift giving.

The survey concluded that Asian women would spend slightly more than men on Valentine’s Day, as 34 per cent of women said that they would spend up to $50 compared with only a quarter of men.

A further 32 per cent of women said they would spend between $50 to $100 compared with 29 per cent of men.

Thais are likely to spend the least on Valentine’s Day, with 54 per cent of women and 49 per cent of men indicating an average spend of up to $50. Dinner was also chosen as the “preferred” option for Valentine’s Day by 58 per cent of women and 74 per cent of men, followed by gift giving.

The GE Money poll found that Filipinos are the most “romantic” in Asia, with 72 per cent saying they planned to celebrate Valentine’s Day in 2008.

Results showed that Korean and Thai men are more “romantic” than their women, with Thai women the least likely to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Overall, Japanese men are the least responsive. When asked to rate their top three most desirable gifts, Asian women chose flowers [53 per cent], jewellery [51 per cent] and travel [35 per cent]. Tying in at an equal third place was chocolate.

Just one-fifth of women preferred lingerie or personal gifts. Only 8 per cent of Asian women chose cosmetics.

For Asian men, their most desired gifts were chocolate,[42 per cent], followed by flowers at 41 per cent and jewellery at 29 per cent.

– The Nation 2008-02-13

Spending on Valentine’s Day rising 15%

BANGKOK: — Despite Thailand’s sluggish economy and a higher cost of living, spending by young men and women in love for Valentine’s Day on Thursday is expected to increase 15 per cent compared to last year, according to a survey by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

Thanawat Palavichai, director of UTCC’s Economic and Business Forecasting Center, said the survey conducted between February 8-10 among 1,223 people, mostly youths, found that about Bt2.16 billion would change hands during Valentine’s Day, up from about Bt1.878 billion money spent on last year’s Valentine’s Day.

While the amount is higher than last year, spending is still projected to be less than two-thirds the amount expected to change hands a week later during Makha Bucha or Buddhist religous holiday.

Some 45.3 per cent of the Thai respondents, however, said that Valentine’s Day this year would be celebrated “less actively than last year” due to the higher cost of living and the poorer economy, said Mr. Thanawat.

Slightly over half — 52 per cent of respondents said they planned to celebrate the day with their sweethearts, while the rest would stay home, he said.

As many as 88.5 per cent of the respondents agreed that the prices of roses had become too expensive while slightly over 80 per cent were worried about the celebrants having sex before they are fully mature and 76.5 per cent were concerned about sex violations.

The University also conducted a survey on the upcoming Makha Bucha Day in which nearly two-thirds of the respondents — 64.8 per cent — of respondents said they would make merit at Buddhist temples.

It is estimated that money totaling about Bt3.64 billion, up about 15 per cent from 2007, would change hands on Makha Bucha Day which falls one week after Valentine’s Day on February 21.

Makha Bucha Day is one of the most important Buddhist religious days as it marks the day when 1,250 novice monks came to meet Lord Buddha without making a prior appointment.

–TNA 2008-02-13

taken from http://www.thaivisa.com