Thailand malls plan to undergo renovations to attract more foreign visitors from those attending the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.

The Platinum Fashion Mall in Bangkok will invest 100 million baht (US$3 million) for a two-year renovation that will commence by the year end.

Bangkok’s Siam Center plans to spend more than one billion baht (US$31.43 million) for a major facelift. An executive from Siam Piwat, the owner and operator of Siam Center, said the mall will be closed from July 16 to November 15 for the four-month renovation and will re-open in December.

This year, 50 per cent of Siam Center’s visitors were foreign tourists from Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Japan, India, South Korea, Malaysia and Laos. Most non-Asian visitors were from Australia, the UK and the US.

Gaysorn, which contains international high-end brands such as Prada, Dior, Louis Vuitton and Salvatore Ferragamo, will build another retail complex.

Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA) and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said they will join hands to promote foreign spending through marketing activities.

GB