Indian bargain hunters win challenge

BANGKOK  A team from India took the top podium spot at the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s “Shopping Challenge”, 17 June, that signalled the start of the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2015.
The event saw 15 teams of representatives from across Asia race around Bangkok’s top shopping malls in search of bargains.
They were competing for a THB100,000 prize based on the team accumulating the most bargains.
Commenting on the event, TAT’s deputy governor for tourism products and business, Vilaiwan Twichasri, said: “The Shopping Challenge is a wonderful way to kick off the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale as it showcases the massive range of goods and products available in Bangkok. The event attracts teams from all over the region, ensuring the nationwide sale enhances Thailand’s reputation as Southeast Asia’s shopping hub and lifestyle destination.”
inside no 5The Shopping Challenge involved 15 teams with 36 representatives from 11 Asian nations. They raced around some of Bangkok’s most famous malls and shopping centres including, Gaysorn, Siam Paragon, Siam Centre, and CentralWorld, with the aim of finding the best bargains in the fastest time.
In the Shopping Challenge, teams were given a THB10,000 budget, an interpreter and a list of goods to find in Ratchaprasong’s malls. The team that returned within the 1.5 hour timeframe, having found the items on their list, were declared the winners.
The THB 100,000 Baht prize Shopping Challenge was won by Niharika Keerthi and Vidya Kishore Kumar the team from India who clinched the top spot after an exciting and closely fought event.
inside no 5.1The Shopping Challenge was first held at the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale in 2009 when the Malaysian team took the first prize; and again in 2014 when a team from Beijing came out on top. This year, teams from Brunei, Mumbai and Chengdu also joined for the first time.
The Amazing Thailand Grand Sale has grown year-on-year since it started in 1999, and is now the biggest event of its kind in the kingdom with 15,000 shops in 110 malls and shopping centres taking part and offering discounts of between 5 and 80 per cent on certain goods as well as other fun and money-saving promotions.

sourced:ttrweekly.com