Tourism ministry wants Songkran substitute holidays spread out over year

By THE NATION

 

Pipat Ratchakitprakarn

 

The Tourism and Sports Ministry disagrees with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)’s plan for a Songkran substitute holiday this Friday (June 5) and will propose different dates.

 

Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said the three substitute Songkran days should not be close to other holidays. Explaining that he did not want large numbers of people to travel at one time, Pipat said he would suggest that the substitute holidays be spread out over the year.

 

He added that travellers aged 18 or older could register with the “Travelling and Sharing Happiness” (Tyo Pan Suk) tourist stimulus package to receive vouchers for hotel discounts.

 

People who check in at hotels with the voucher will receive discounts on rooms, restaurants, spa treatments and souvenir shops.

 

The ministry has assigned the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to open the discount offer to a maximum of 1 million tourists per 4 regions.

“If eligible applicants are mostly Bangkokian, they will travel mainly to Hua Hin and Pattaya,” he said.

 

Responding to the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA)’s proposal that Thailand open in July to travellers from countries not on the Covid-19 danger list, the minister said he wanted foreign tourists to return to Thailand as fast as possible.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30389044

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-06-04

 

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Good move. Whoever suggested 5th July was an idiot on all levels especially common sense

Edited June 4, 20206 yr by madmen

With factories, offices and other businesses closed for the last few weeks I would think people should get back to work and make some money for the economy rather than have more holidays. Maybe I am just a Grumpy Old Man ....

Off topic and reply removed

Agreed, no point in closing it all down for a week as it starts to open up.

Wasn't there a similar scheme in some country years ago where they planned to change from driving on the right hand side of the road to the left hand side.

 

The scheme was to be introduced gradually over a period of 6 months.

Or just forget it until next year, it has passed after all.

Just now, Thailand said:

Or just forget it until next year, it has passed after all.

You have hit the nail on the head. All Thais I know think the same. 

Great idea. The first time that I agree with him since he wanted to extend the opening times of the awful night life. 

16 hours ago, DaLa said:

Wasn't there a similar scheme in some country years ago where they planned to change from driving on the right hand side of the road to the left hand side.

 

The scheme was to be introduced gradually over a period of 6 months.

I recall reading that in an issue of Car & Driver, waaay back in mid 60's, just to back you up

17 hours ago, TTSIssues said:

With factories, offices and other businesses closed for the last few weeks I would think people should get back to work and make some money for the economy rather than have more holidays. Maybe I am just a Grumpy Old Man ....

Actually the vast majority of industry was never closed, what was being reported was very different to reality.

 

Whilst i agree the proposed July 5th date is pretty daft coming 4 days after the schools are hopefully opening, i do hope the Songkran 3 day holiday happens later in the year.

 

Most Thai employees do not receive many days annual leave and the 3 day break gives the best chance of actually having a week off work. I know our staff who have worked non-stop this year certainly deserve it.

hub of flip flop

Unless they select Wednesdays, long weekends will always cause the crowds to move and mingle.

The green striped deckchairs should be laid out on the starboard promenade deck, the red striped deckchairs on the port promenade deck.

 

No, perhaps the red towards the bow, and the green towards the stern.

 

Wait, my ministry thinks that...

17 hours ago, Thailand said:

Or just forget it until next year, it has passed after all.

Gotta keep bringing the happiness to the People!! 

Is he proposing several songkran water wars during the year ?

It's not the right time.   Have another go next year. 

20 hours ago, webfact said:

Tourism ministry wants Songkran substitute holidays spread out over year

Just scrub it and let people do what they want when they can afford to do it.

How about a compromise?

 

Anyone trying to enter a shop that isn't wearing a mask or refuses to sign the book gets a bucket of water thrown over them?

 

They are just trying to rearrange the deckchairs as Thailand sinks below the waves. 

Let's have a wet day each month. Great idea, really! Next.

A good idea from Pipat, for a change. 

having the holiday in September would be a better idea if they have it at all.  Families right now are trying to put together the money for schools tuition, uniforms andbooks.  Schools must at this point be getting low on their reserves

 

Giving people a holiday at this time is stupid.  wait a couple of months until people feel safer travelling and have the funds to spend.

School, possibly opens in chiangmai on 1 July.  So students would go 1,2, and 3.   Off 4 and 5 july for the weekend and the new songkhran festival 6-9 july.  Then back to school on friday 10 july?  Again closed for the weekend and go back to school on Monday 13 july.   Maybe forget songkhran holiday this year except for necessary temple events?   

22 hours ago, webfact said:

the minister said he wanted foreign tourists to return to Thailand as fast as possible.

And this means open doors from when on ?

3 hours ago, ChakaKhan said:

Gotta keep bringing the happiness to the People!! 

IMHO the only thing that will bring happiness to the people is the day that this government and all the "handpicked" senators are kicked out and replaced by a truly civilian freely elected government and new Senators voted in.

 

NO military or ex military need to apply.

 

Even Thaksin at his worst was never this bad.

22 hours ago, Thailand said:

Or just forget it until next year, it has passed after all.

But this is the land of public holidays so hey bring em on and throw in a few more to make it a permanent 3 day working week...

the country is in a mess....and all the want to do is have a Songkram holiday....coz they missed it in April.....forget about it for 2020......get people back to work and get everything open again....

As foreigners we mostly just think of Songkran as a fun time, but it is perhaps the most important cultural holiday there is. If you have ever been in any of the non-touristy provinces during this time you'll see a different form of celebration, with still a lot of fun, but different and very family oriented. Obviously they're willing to sell out this ancient cultural holiday for tourism's sake.

What Songkran substitute??? Call it a Covid holiday! 5 working days for everyone. Ok 10 working days. We don't wanna be stingy.