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.