Bangkok – The primary business and shopping district of downtown Bangkok is to be converted into a giant festival of happiness, joy, fun and Thai smiles over the 25-26 July weekend as part of a big-bang effort to show the world that Thai tourism is more than back to normal.

In an extravaganza never before held in Thailand, the entire Ratchaprasong area will come alive with colourful parades, great shopping, fashion shows, concerts and culinary delights from 15.00 hrs   to midnight on both days. The theme “Thailand Happiness” will be lived up to the hilt.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik said, “This event will be unmatched in the annals of Thai tourism. Along with our project partners, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (TG) and the Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association, we are going to make this the biggest and best back-to-normal party Thailand has ever seen.”

Although its primary objective is to convey a powerful message that the Thai tourism industry is back to normal, the event has an equally potent purpose to help bring the smiles back to the faces of the Thai people after several months of uncertainty.

On both days, there will be a Happiness Concert featuring performances by contemporary musicians and traditional Thai folk singers, accompanied by sound-and-light theatrics at the CentralWorld Square. At the Happy Gift Market, visitors will find everything from antique products to trendy, brand-name clothes and fashion items. One section, called “Stars on the Street” will have booths manned by Thai celebrities and TV superstars selling footwear, T-shirts, green gourmet, boutique apparel and even Thai desserts.

Another section, called Happiness Surprise will allow visitors to take Instagram pictures of smiling faces and place them in giant gift boxes. After getting 5,000 smiling pictures, the boxes will be opened and the best smiles will get surprise rewards.

The Happiness Activity will have free ice-cream containers where participants have to help  each other to get ice-cream, but in a totally different way. There will also be “Happiness balloons” and opportunities to win cute gifts or prepaid mobile cards worth 50 Baht. In the evening, there will be a parade of heroes with food, fashion, flowers and folk songs. Music performances will continue at the main stage until midnight.

Mr. Thawatchai said, “This is going to be the mother of all bounce-back parties. We invite people from all around the world to join us in what will be a once-in-a-lifetime event, even better than our New Year Countdowns.”

He noted that visitors can also stay on for a few days in Bangkok after the event to take advantage of the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale now under way at dozens of department stores, shopping malls, restaurants, spas, and other retail outlets in the Thai capital and nationwide.

“We know that Thailand has many friends and supporters worldwide, especially amongst our neighbours in the ASEAN countries. For them, Bangkok is only a short flying time away. It will be a really good opportunity for them to join us in showing the ASEAN spirit of friendship and fraternity,” he added.

Other event partners include the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Ministry of Interior, airlines, Thai Hotels Association, Thai Restaurant Association, Association of Thai Travel Agents and several other public and private sector organisations.

In the last week of July, TAT and TG will set the biggest ever fam trip “The Thailand’s Best Friends Forever (Thailand’s BFF) for a total of at least 800 members of the media, bloggers, and travel agents from all over the world to convene in Bangkok at the welcome reception on 25 July at the Bangkok Convention Centre, Centara Grand Hotel at CentralWorld, as well as joining the “Thailand Happiness” street festival before travelling to various parts of the kingdom to experience for themselves the many tourist attractions and services the country has to offer.

In addition, this event encourages the people to pass over the message that Thailand awaits to welcome all visitors with an abundance of destinations and cordially invites all tourists to enjoy a vacation here as always.