Chiang Mai businesses must adapt as dry Songkran set to destroy financial bonanza

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Picture: Sanook

 

The chief of Chiang Mai's tourism business association said that people in the industry would just have to accept the ban on water throwing put in place by the CCSA or Covid steering committee.

 

Phallop Sae-jew told Sanook that not allowing water fights in the northern Thai capital - famous for its raucous celebrations - would take the edge off Songkran.

 

But he and his members accepted the decision was in the interests of public health and people would abide by the ruling. 

 

He noted that in normal pre-pandemic years the moat areas would be overflowing with the young and foreign tourists spending money.

 

Not this year.

 

Some people would be in town to visit their families, he noted, saying that he expected hotels to have occupancy of 20% up from 10% this month. 

 

Restaurants would do better, he said, with families going out to eat. 

 

The CCSA has only allowed sprinkling of lustral water on Buddha images and respectful ceremonies to honour the aged along with some events permitted by the Culture Ministry this year. 

 

Water fights and foam parties are off the agenda and of course foreign tourists - the lifeblood of a place like Chiang Mai - are still almost completely absent. 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-03-23

 

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[khwaibah]

Grumpy old buggers will love this.????

[NCC1701A]

so let me get this straight, pouring water on a girl's tee shirt is not the same as spraying water right? 

 

I just want to be operating within the letter of the law at all times.