Tomorrowland, the hugely popular European electronic dance music or EDM festival, will stage its first-ever full-fledged Asia edition in Thailand this December.
Thailand was chosen for its growing influence on the global stage of music, innovation, and experience-driven tourism, Tomorrowland said on Tuesday.
Founded 20 years ago by Belgian brothers Manu and Michiel Beers, Tomorrowland has become one of the world's most iconic celebrations of EDM. Its annual Belgian edition often features ambitious, creative stages and wild parties that draw music lovers from across the world.
Organisers are expecting more than 50,000 attendees each day in the Thai beach town of Pattaya from December 11 to 13.
Pre-registration for tickets begins on January 8. A full madness pass covering all three days of the festival will cost 12,500 baht (approximately $400; £300) while a single-day pass is available for 5,100 baht.
More details on the festival's theme and line-up will follow soon, organisers said.
Although the Tomorrowland group has held events in some Asian cities, this is the first time it will be holding an entire festival on the continent, and one that is similar in scale to the original in Belgium.
Thailand has finalized an agreement with Tomorrowland to host the event for five years and expects it to generate around 21 billion baht ($673 million; £497 million) over this period, according to Thai media.
Expanding Tomorrowland to a new continent is a milestone we approach with great respect and excitement... This is the beginning of a long-term story, said Tomorrowland's chief executive officer Bruno Vanwelsenaers.
In recent years, Thailand has become a strong contender in the live music scene, hosting international music festivals like Electric Daisy Carnival and Creamfields. Bangkok was also a stop on K-pop band Blackpink's world tour last October.
The country's homegrown music and arts festival Wonderfruit is emerging as a popular destination on the festival circuit, attracting tens of thousands each year.
