CHIANG RAI 28 June 2019: The reality that thousands of tickets will need to be sold by November is now sinking in for the sales team heading promotions for the Wat Rong Khun Light Fest.
Index Creative Village is organising the month-long spectacular at Chiang Rai’s iconic “white temple Wat Rong Khun, 22 November to 22 December.
Now the hard grind begins to convince travel agencies, hotels and other sales channels that reach out to both domestic and international traveller to book or resell tickets for the spectacular nighttime show.
Positioned as a one-off event, the tickets retail at THB400 to THB1,150 per person.
Index Creative Index says show tickets are limited for spectators and part of the income from ticket sales will go to Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital.
But ticket sales need to also target international tour operators, a company executive confided, saying the priority was to recruit tour companies to book tickets in advance for their overseas clients.
A sneak peek preview of the show took place earlier this month that focused on Bangkok media and local travel agents based in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. There are probably no more than three travel firms in Chiang Rai that have the connections to sell tickets to international tour company partners.
But to give the event the kind of ticket sale volume requires huge support from international tour operators especially those who have offices in Bangkok, or have partner representative companies.
A couple of travel agents with offices in Chiang Rai have already been appointed to sell tickets while Chiang Rai’s hotels are being recruited to sell tickets to their guests.
Early bird ticket sales should tap online and offline travel agencies that handle tours from Europe, India and China. Ideally, the Tourism Authority of Thailand would act as the facilitator to connect with markets in ASEAN to fill seats that are not sold locally through TicketMaster.
Architect and founder of Wat Rong Khun and ‘National Artist’, Chalermchai Kositpipat joined hands with Index Village to create this first-ever light and sound spectacular billed as an “immersive experience entitled: “Wat Rong Khun Light Fest, The Episode: Begins.”
The show will employ innovative 3D laser projection mapping technique using Wat Rong Khun as the backdrop and illuminating the world-famous Buddhist architecture and art exhibits against the backdrop of the city’s nightscape.
In addition to the spectacular light show, the event will bring together behind-the-scene design masters and Thai artists representing different fields of expertise.
The team includes Sarawut “Nann” Lertpanyanuch, Thailand’s most renowned writer/composer for theatre musicals and music director for concerts with famous plays such as Banlang Mek the Musical, Si Pan Din (Four Reigns), Tawipob, Khang Lang Pab and Hong Nua Mungkorn, Nipon Wannamahin or “Jo Variety Dance”, an internationally-acclaimed dance director and choreographer with experiences from Cannes Festival and the Mahajanaka the Phenomenon Live Show to honour His Majesty the King, and LightSource Co Ltd.
Index Creative Village founder and chief executive Officer, Kreingkrai Kanjanapokin, claims he “fell in love with Chiang Rai Province at first sight after seeing this magical temple” which has now become the pride of Buddhist art for Thai people across North Thailand.
“The feeling inspired me to create this project which has been in the pre-production for over a year now,” he explains.
Currently, “Wat Rong Khun” is ranked third in the top 10 most beautiful temples of the world, with around 3 million tourists visiting the temple annually.
Most international tourists visit Chiang Rai on day trips from Chiang Mai requiring a 360-km roundtrip road transfer. The show during the annual cool season should encourage travellers to stay overnight in Chiang Rai at least extending their stay by one night.
But to achieve that, the travel industry, hotels, travel agents, OTAs (Expedia, Booking.com), airlines and the Tourism Authority of Thailand will have to unite and form “Team Chiang Rai” to support the event and ensure international tourists can enjoy the spectacular.
If not it will be a grand show attracting domestic travellers while the opportunity to reach out to international visitors and extend their stay in Chiang Rai will not materialise.
