Thailand slashes ticket sales target

Thailand slashes ticket sales target

BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand is hoping for a last-minute rush on
tickets for the Asian Games after slashing sales targets on
Tuesday amid sluggish demand.

With the games just 26 days away, officials admitted ticket
revenues for the opening and closing ceremonies were a mere 60
million baht (US$1.6 million) so far, way off a targeted 250
million baht.

"I admitted that sales were far below the target, which
worried the committee," Deputy Prime Minister Bhichai Rattakul
told reporters as he went in to brief cabinet Tuesday.

"But I think that we can boost sales in the last minutes,"
added Bhichai, who chairs the Bangkok Asian Games Organizing
Committee.

Forecast ticket sales for the ceremonies have been revised
down to 200 million baht, from 250 million, ticketing committee
official Kiatisak Wongpanich told AFP.

Local ticket agent Power Telecom put the projected take from
the two ceremonies even lower at only 160 million baht.

Kiatisak said overall sales for the entire games will reach a
mere 260 million baht, down from an earlier estimate of 312
million baht.

Officials have shrugged off fears that Asia's financial crisis
would overshadow the event. But already, some of the 41 competing
nations have been forced to scale down their teams, blaming
economic turmoil.

The run-up to the Dec. 6-20 games has also been blighted by
fears that new venues would not be completed on time and athletes
and officials may become stalled in Bangkok's notorious traffic
jams.

Although officials now assure the venues are ready, there are
still worries that key roads and expressways leading to the
stadiums will not be completed before the games kick off.