Udon Thani is becoming the place to shop in Thailand.
Bangkok is known for its countless shopping centres dotted around the capital. Selling a range of products from low end to luxury items, people come to Thailand’s capital to shop. However this trend could be changing as it is becoming popular to go shopping in Udon Thani.
According to real estate firm JLL, there has been an increasing number of shopping malls in Udon Thani province of Thailand. Situated in the north east of the country, Udon Thani is a travel hub thanks to its airport. It provides a stepping stone to Laos via Nong Khai, which lacks an airport, making Udon Thani the perfect stop off point for many tourists travelling from Bangkok.
Using Udon Thani as a base, many tourists visit the local attractions but also take advantage of the city’s shopping amenities. Spending a few in the city spending anywhere between THB 5,000 to 10,000 per visit, the majority of which is on shopping.
JLL have said that a growing population combined with increasing household incomes as the factors for this growth in the retail sector. Siwanart Srisomsup, associate director of retail consultancy and leasing at JLL, comments, “Among the 20 north-eastern provinces, Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani and Khon Kaen have been identified as the region’s largest shopping mall markets. Out of the three, the spotlight is currently on Udon Thani where the shopping mall sector has recently become exceptionally active as many leading international and local retail operators and retailers are establishing their presence in the city.”
Shopping in Udon Thani is vast. The city’s two leading shopping centres, CentralPlaza Udon Thani and UD Town, have made a real impact to the region. Home to both local and international brands, both attract approximately 20,000 shoppers every day. UD Town has announced plans to expand with the arrival of UD Decentia, a new 13,000 sq m lifestyle mall that will be linked via a skywalk to UD Town.
Creating further competition in this retail hot spot, Srisomsup adds, “Retail operators will compete harder to attract new retailers and retain existing ones. They will also have to work harder to ensure a sufficient flow of shoppers to support their retailers within the centres. Having said all that, we believe a growing number and affluence of shoppers in Udon Thani will ensure adequate demand to support the growing retail supply in the city”.
