The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) projects that the Songkran holiday this week will bring in 18.5 billion baht and draw more than 300,000 foreign visitors.
During the extended holiday break, more than 3.8 million Thais and roughly 305,000 foreign visitors are anticipated to visit the nation, according to TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn.
After three years of Covid-19, which saw Songkran festivities and parties cancelled or severely limited, the Thai New Year is once again being celebrated in full.
In 2019, according to TAT estimates, the Thai tourism industry has rebounded to 60% of its pre-Covid level. In particular from Southeast and East Asian nations, tourists are currently visiting the nation in considerable numbers.
This year’s Songkran event in Thailand, which is billed as the greatest water fight in the world, has attracted a sizable number of visitors from countries including India, Taiwan, Japan, China, South Korea, France, and Russia. The extended holiday is causing an increase of travelers at border checkpoints with Malaysia and Laos, two nearby countries.
The “Hatyai Midnight Songkran” celebration in the southern border province of Songkhla attracted a sizable number of tourists from Malaysia and Singapore. At the Udon Songkran Festival in the northern region of Udon Thani, Laotian tourists increased the attendance.
The “Water Festival 2023” is being held by the TAT from Thursday to Saturday in five of the most populous areas of the nation. This year’s festival has “Defining Your Thainess” as its subject.
Yuthasak claimed that Songkran has gained international recognition in addition to drawing tourists from other countries.
The traditional Thai New Year’s request to be included on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is now being considered by Unesco.
As part of its soft power strategy, Thailand, he continued, was pushing Songkran.
At the “International Amazing Splash 2023” opening ceremony, which was held on Centenary Park Road (Soi Chulalongkorn 5) in Bangkok, the TAT governor gave a speech.
