The Big Mountain Music Festival 14 recently concluded with remarkable success, underscoring its significance in the cultural and economic landscape of Nakhon Ratchasima.

Organized by GAYRAY under GMM Show, a segment of GMM Music Public Co., this event has consistently garnered substantial support from local entities.

Championing the initiative is Chaiwat Chuenkosum, Governor of Nakhon Ratchasima, who has prioritized large-scale music festivals as a pivotal avenue to draw both domestic and international tourists.

Set amidst the scenic backdrop of Khao Yai, the festival invigorates local tourism and spending.

"Our government and local bodies, including the police and private sector, are delighted by the organizers choosing Khao Yai in Pak Chong district — a premier tourist destination of our province," Chuenkosum remarked.

This strategic collaboration is attributed to the festival's scale, recognized as Thailand's largest music fest, featuring an extensive roster of domestic and international artists, making it a key annual attraction.

Consequently, the festival acts as a significant economic engine, propelling local financial activity.

This year's festival attracted approximately 65,000 attendees, dispersing economic benefits across various local businesses, including hotels, restaurants, local markets, and transport services.

During the event's duration, it generated over 350 million baht in direct spending and spurred more than 2.2 billion baht in wider economic circulation.

Attendees reportedly spent an average of 5,400 baht over two days, covering transportation, accommodation, and food.

Local governance in Nakhon Ratchasima collaborated with GAYRAY to bolster local entrepreneurs, facilitating orderly operations and ensuring tourism and recreational activities yield optimal experiences.

Ensuring smooth traffic flow, safety, and fair pricing for goods and services formed a cornerstone of the support strategy.

A noteworthy facet of this year's festival was an emphasis on sustainability, marked by the comprehensive waste management initiative 'Waste Nothing - Muns Laew Thing.' In partnership with Suntory PepsiCo Beverage (Thailand), GAYRAY introduced 55 waste segregation points managed by over 200 personnel, advising attendees on responsible waste disposal.

Local youth and volunteers, numbering over 100, also played a critical role in collecting recyclable materials like PET plastic bottles and aluminum cans.

The festival's aesthetic and ecological highlight, "PEPSI X SCULPTURE #MunsLaewThing," saw recycled PET bottles transformed into a photographic landmark, advocating the 'Bottle-to-Bottle Recycling' concept.

All collected PET bottles were earmarked for recycling into new rPET 100% bottles, reaffirming Suntory PepsiCo Thailand's commitment to sustainable packaging and their PepsiCo Positive (pep+) strategic goals.

This environmental consciousness underscores the shared responsibility among festival organizers and local authorities, ensuring the continued prestige of Thailand's largest music festival benefits both the region's populace and its visitors.

In sum, the Big Mountain Music Festival epitomizes a sustainable model of music tourism, enriching Nakhon Ratchasima's socio-economic tapestry.

This tourism dimension, beyond ticket sales, manifests a vibrant circular economy at the grassroots level, demonstrating an enduring blueprint for cultural festivals worldwide.