Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn on Friday admitted that announcing the booking of K-pop sensation Lalisa "Lisa" Manoban of Blackpink for the Phuket New Year celebration before the contract was signed was a mistake.
"It was a communication error by the ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand to confirm the booking without seeing the contract details first as I had said that the contract wouldn't be signed until Oct 30," said Mr Phiphat.
"I also cannot confirm any details about Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli for the same reason."
Mr Phiphat denied a number of rumours including claims that Blackpink's management had refused Thailand's invitation because it wanted all the group's members to attend the countdown event.
Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the issue has nothing to do with a lack of optimism regarding the country's reopening.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha suggested inviting other international singers to perform in Phuket alongside cultural demonstrations from the country's five regions.
