Bangkok--16 May--Spark Communications
Visa offers 40 packages as local banks and retailers warm up for The London 2012 Olympic Games.
Thai consumers look set to reap real rewards as the country’s biggest banks and retailers compete with each other but in partnership with Visa to offer once in a lifetime offers, promotions, and giveaways for the 30th Olympiad in London. May alone looks like a marathon month as Bank of Ayudhya, Citibank, Kasikorn Bank, Siam Commercial Bank, The Mall Group and McDonalds all look to partner with Visa offering prizes and 40 dream trips to The Games, courtesy of Visa.
Somboon Krobteeranon, Visa’s Country Manager for Thailand said: “This is going to be our best event ever. Thai retailers and banks are already revving up for what looks to be yet another outstanding spectacle and the list and scale of offers and unbeatable rewards and prizes is truly world class. Given the quality and quantity of outstanding offers, many Thai consumers are going to be winners at home and abroad this year.
Amongst the many giveaways on offer are a full range of mouthwatering trips to London and the latest home electronics to view it on. Visa in association with The Mall Group and McDonalds is even offering Opening and Closing ceremony prizes.
Consumer spend expected to reach record levels
But it is not just Thais that look set to benefit from The Games. As the exclusive payment services sponsor of The Olympic Games, Visa has seen a significant increase in consumer spending during The Games and Paralympic Games since it first became a sponsor in 1986. According to a report by Visa, the UK will benefit from a massive ?750 million consumer spending boost over the seven week period of The Games — the biggest ever consumer spend increase expected for a host market. Furthermore, it is expected that this record-breaking spending will deliver a sustained stimulus worth a total of ?5.1 billion to the UK economy by 2015[i].
Visa anticipates that the UK’s enduring popularity among people from Asia will contribute significantly to this boost in spend, with the UK regularly being named as one of the top destinations for travelers in the region[ii].
“With just 73 days to go, all of the planning and organization for London 2012 is coming to a head, with Visa joining athletes, organizers and supporters around the world to eagerly await the arrival of one of the world’s largest sporting events,” said David Fielding, Visa’s Head of Country Marketing for Asia Pacific. “With the UK, and London in particular, holding such a strong attraction for people across Asia — and with some strong hopes for success for home-grown athletes — we are expecting The Games fever to take hold like never before.”
As part of its final preparations for London 2012, Visa is working around the clock to ensure all payment terminals, devices and dedicated ATM networks are fully installed and ready to go at all of The Games and Paralympic Games venues across London.
[i] Golden Opportunity — London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games Expenditure and Economic Impact
[ii] The Visa Global Travel Intentions Survey 2011 was an online and offline survey conducted by Nielsen in February and March 2011
For further media information, please contact:
Waruch-on Manomairat or Varadee Vasavananda
Spark Communications
Tel: 02 653 2717-9