BANGKOK: Tomorrowland Thailand’s organiser expects to incur a loss despite selling out tickets for the festival’s debut from December 11 to 13, 2026, after its inaugural budget increased from 1.6 billion to 2 billion baht.
Bangkok Biznews quoted Rachata Thunyavuthi, an executive board member of WEAREONE.WORLD (Thailand) Co Ltd, as saying the first event would be decisive in determining whether the Belgian partners proceed with their planned five-year commitment to Thailand.
The electronic dance music festival will take place at Wisdom Valley in Khao Mai Kaeo subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri. Rachata said Thailand would join Belgium and Brazil as one of three countries hosting a full-scale Tomorrowland festival, after the founders and Belgian team spent more than a decade exploring opportunities and searching for a suitable venue in Thailand.
Rachata attributed the higher budget to December being the peak season for outdoor events across Asia. Equipment shortages in Thailand had forced the organiser to import additional supplies from Singapore and Malaysia, increasing costs.
Around 60% of Tomorrowland Thailand’s budget covers costs for the inaugural edition alone, while 20% is allocated to expenditure benefiting three to five years of events and the remaining 20% to landscaping and site improvements, Rachata said.
“The first year will definitely make a loss,” Rachata said. “Investment is about 2 billion baht, above our original budget.”
Rachata rejected the suggestion that the Thai operation had simply bought a licence and would pass ticket revenue to Belgium. The organiser is a joint venture with 85% Belgian and 15% Thai ownership, supported by Board of Investment promotion, bringing foreign investment into Thailand and paying Thai taxes.
Preparations for Tomorrowland Thailand were on schedule apart from private sponsorship, which had fallen short of expectations, Rachata said. Crystal, the drinking-water brand in the ThaiBev group, was the only sponsor secured so far.
Rachata described Tomorrowland as “Disneyland for adults”, where sponsor logos and vinyl banners cannot be attached to structures throughout the site. Those restrictions could make Thai businesses question the value of sponsorship.
Politicians, civil servants and business representatives had asked how an event that sold out within an hour could lose money, Rachata said. Tomorrowland invests heavily in a theme-park setting and experiences beyond the artist line-up, leaving costs too high to cover even with 400 million baht in first-year government support.
The Cabinet endorsed Thailand’s hosting of the festival from 2026 to 2030, with total support of 2 billion baht, equivalent to 400 million baht annually. Rachata said some first-year funding had arrived, with further disbursement to follow after the event under the required procedures.
Rachata praised cooperation from the ministries of Transport, Tourism and Sports, and Labour; the Excise and Customs departments; the Immigration Bureau; the Tourism Authority of Thailand; and local authorities.
The Belgian partners wanted to complete the five-year programme, but their continued participation depended on commitments being honoured and the first event’s reception, Rachata said. After spending more than a decade finding Wisdom Valley, the partners had little appetite to search for another venue.
“They really want to stay and organise the festival in Thailand for five years,” Rachata said. “But if the commitments made to them are not fully met, they remain uncertain and cannot give a firm commitment.”
Rachata stressed that the assessment would extend beyond financial results. Local authorities needed to fulfil agreements, while interference by influential local figures or exploitation of visitors could damage Thailand’s reputation and leave tourists feeling unsafe.
Rachata said the festival would showcase Thailand, making cooperation essential, although the outcome would only become clear when the event took place.
Singapore and Malaysia had previously offered to host Tomorrowland and were ready to compete for the rights if shortcomings by the Thai team or public agencies undermined the Belgian partners’ confidence, Rachata said.
Rachata considered Singapore the most likely alternative because of its government’s support for private businesses and reputation for reliability. Organisers disappointed by Thailand would want to avoid further difficulties with government agencies, in his assessment.
“The first year is the biggest test because the costs are so high,” Rachata said.
Rachata said the Belgian partners would expand the festival to two weekends in 2027 if public agencies and other sectors supported the event, its reputation was protected and the Cabinet honoured its commitments. Tangible results from the debut could strengthen economic benefits and confidence in subsequent editions.
Rachata put Pattaya’s hotel occupancy for the festival period at 99%, with room rates three times their usual level. December normally brings occupancy of about 85% across the city’s more than 100,000 rooms, he said.
Rachata expected Tomorrowland to generate Pattaya’s largest influx of visitors for a December event. Tickets covering 50,000 attendees per day across three days had sold out, but some buyers had not anticipated that accommodation could be insufficient.
Rachata described the hotel surge as a double-edged development. Meetings with operators in Pattaya and nearby areas in October had emphasised the need to avoid excessive price increases that could strain visitors’ budgets and discourage attendance in future years.
For 2027, the organiser was considering two consecutive Friday-to-Sunday weekends, following the Belgian format, Rachata said. Visitors could attend either weekend or both.
Rachata projected that expansion could increase economic activity associated with the festival from 5 billion baht in 2026 to 10 billion baht in 2027.
Accommodation planning for 2027 would include an initial 5,000–10,000 tents, Rachata said, compared with more than 30,000 tents provided for visitors at the Belgian festival. - The Nation/ANN
