Cabinet pours cold water on Songkran holiday extension proposal

By The Nation

 

 

The government did not approve an extension of Songkran holidays to nine days after a Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister’s Office spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat said today (February 18).

 

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha expressed strong disagreement with the proposal to extend the holidays since the existing number of days was reasonable and tourism was not seen to be highly lucrative at present.

 

Earlier, the finance minister was planning an extension of Songkran festival holidays – from April 11-19 – as it might help stimulate the economy.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30382340

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-02-18

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3 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha expressed strong disagreement with the proposal to extend the holidays since the existing number of days was reasonable

<deleted> me, for once I agree with him.

I best go see a doctor tomorrow.

10 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha expressed strong disagreement with the proposal

 

Sometimes a flash of lucidity ...

Dam there goes my 9 days of peace here in Bangkok would have been less traffic and pollution to worry about 

Give it some time folks.. They will renege once things go more downhill.. 

More people would have died in Thailand in those 2 extra days of Songkran than will be infected from Corona ever.

 

Good decision.

1 hour ago, Thaiwrath said:

<deleted> me, for once I agree with him.

I best go see a doctor tomorrow.

Me too  must be contagious new  virus strain maybe ????

1 hour ago, Assurancetourix said:

 

Sometimes a flash of lucidity ...

Even a broken clock is correct 2 x per day ????

Good decision for once..... ????????????

Can anyone explain how forcing people to stop working for a few extra days would help to stimulate the economy?

4 minutes ago, SteveK said:

Can anyone explain how forcing people to stop working for a few extra days would help to stimulate the economy?

It will sure be good for the Chang, Singha and lao kao families!

4 minutes ago, SteveK said:

Can anyone explain how forcing people to stop working for a few extra days would help to stimulate the economy?

Can anyone explain why you would need to FORCE people to stop working?

They were never going to stop anyone working other than public sector, which is not insignificant but hardly the majority.

 

Private sector typically just ignores the occasional ad-hoc holidays the government throws out, especially now as public holidays are already increased over recent years due to additional holidays such as Rama 9 Memorial Day (whilst Father’s Day is kept in December) plus new holidays for current King & Queen’s birthday. 

 

Bigger picture they should reform and enforce reasonable private sector annual leave regulations and wind down the number of public holidays. 

 

That way, when you did have a holiday it wouldn’t necessarily be at the same time as 70 million other people....

 

How about just banning the whole stupid thing.

We have had no water for 3 weeks but the morons will still be chucking it around as usual.

37 minutes ago, Susco said:

Can anyone explain why you would need to FORCE people to stop working?

It is true that the Thai does not need to be forced to stop or avoid working 

47 minutes ago, SteveK said:

Can anyone explain how forcing people to stop working for a few extra days would help to stimulate the economy?

 

spending rather than earning money, hummm....

Well, well, well. A sensible decision. Who'd have thought it?

 

 

 

Worst holiday ever! Songkran sucks. The thais are insufferable with the water play, and farang are worst. It's just an excuse for thais to assault farang and get away with it.

Right. Getting filthy water mixed with talcum power in your eyes is a fun holiday. Just a little water play. Oh, and retards will be throwing water on moving vehickes and motorbikes. Just a SH!T time to be in Thailand. 

Literally nothing cultural left in this crapholiday.

I too agree.  While I think that had things been more “normal” an extension would have produced more economic stimulus than not... but given the current climate - both health related and overall negative economic sentiment- I agree that adding more days would probably not produce the intended effect of higher economic stimulus net the of the loss of productivity due to the additional days off.

13 hours ago, shackleton said:

Dam there goes my 9 days of peace here in Bangkok would have been less traffic and pollution to worry about 

hard luck !!

How about showing some initiative and reducing the number of days people can throw precious water in Pattaya (usually 9 or 10 days) and bring back the 18:00hrs curfew when all water throwing stops......!!!!!

11 hours ago, Thian said:

It will sure be good for the Chang, Singha and lao kao families!

Absolutely - you hit the nail on the head

It seems they are grasping at straws.

Why can't they see that it is

• The Thai economy - falsely inflated
• Thai Baht - much too high
• Failing Tourism and appealing to wrong areas [China & India]

Other neighbours are getting more than they used to of foreign tourists.

If we don’t get any serious rain before Songkran, what’s the betting it either gets cancelled or severe water restrictions placed on it. Definitely no chance of an extension

14 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

<deleted> me, for once I agree with him.

I best go see a doctor tomorrow.

Go now your condition is serious!

5 minutes ago, PaDavid said:

If we don’t get any serious rain before Songkran, what’s the betting it either gets cancelled or severe water restrictions placed on it. Definitely no chance of an extension

Can't see it getting cancelled - there would be riots!

I think he flipped a coin and got lucky.  Or a fortune teller explained to him that it was an illogical idea.

12 hours ago, fishtank said:

How about just banning the whole stupid thing.

We have had no water for 3 weeks but the morons will still be chucking it around as usual.

I see you’ve adjusted well to the Thai culture.....555

a very wise and sensible decision, 

13 hours ago, DLock said:

More people would have died in Thailand in those 2 extra days of Songkran than will be infected from Corona ever.

 

Good decision.

Yep... too much Corona (beer) can be brutal! ????????????