29-3-2024 (BANGKOK) The organisers of Tomorrowland, a renowned electronic dance music (EDM) festival, have refuted a government statement suggesting the event’s arrival in Thailand, citing the necessity to assess the feasibility of the proposal.
As reported by EDM.com on Thursday, organisers stated that further investigation is needed, with no confirmed venue in Thailand yet.
“The Tomorrowland team is diligently conducting thorough research and exploration to assess the feasibility of hosting Tomorrowland in Thailand. There is still much to be investigated,” remarked Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Wilmsen via the company’s website, EDM.com.
The clarification comes in response to a statement by government spokesman Chai Watcharonke, indicating plans to host the event in the country by 2026, potentially spanning nine consecutive years from its debut.
According to Mr Chai, the announcement followed a meeting between the Tomorrowland team, other event organisers, and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, though he did not specify the date of the meeting. He mentioned that agreements had been reached to host several major events.
EDM.com confirmed their meeting with Thai officials in December last year but stressed the absence of venue confirmation for the festival.
Tomorrowland, a globally acclaimed music festival attracting 400,000 enthusiasts annually, typically unfolds over two weeks during the summer in Belgium, the home base of EDM organisers. This year, the event is scheduled in Boom, Belgium, from July 19 to 28. Since its inception in 2005, Tomorrowland has spawned offshoots such as TomorrowWorld in Atlanta and Tomorrowland Winter in France, with Brazil also hosting the event in October.
Additionally, Mr Chai disclosed Thailand’s agreement to host Summer Sonic, a successful music festival from Japan, at Impact Arena from Aug 24-25, following shows in Tokyo and Osaka. This marks the second time the festival will be held outside Japan, aiming to bolster tourism and the economy.
Prime Minister Srettha’s efforts align with his focus on securing exclusive entertainment deals for Thailand, reminiscent of Singapore’s success in securing superstar Taylor Swift’s sole Southeast Asian tour performance in the island state.
