The reason for the question of gate assignment is to be able to provide a taxi instruction towards the appropriate ramp entrance. The introduction of a taxi instruction that will point the aircraft away from the entrance will lead to ac stopping in the intersection and questioning the ground controller. There was a certain large foreign flag carrier that would routinely land on 31R, exit at the taxiway which connected to the primary entrance to their terminal and stop, not clear of the runway. The crew was talking to the ramp as the following aircraft was sent around.