Thailand to see $3.6 bln spending during water festival

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK, April 1 (Reuters) - Thailand’s consumer spending could jump 64% to 113 billion baht ($3.61 billion) during the upcoming Thai New Year after last year’s slump when tighter coronavirus curbs were in place, the commerce university said on Thursday.

 

But excluding 2020, when the country imposed full outbreak restrictions, spending would be the lowest in nine years, Thanavath Phonvichai, president of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, told a briefing.

 

“People are still worried about COVID-19 and they feel the economy has not recovered yet,” he said, adding spending in pre-pandemic 2019 was 136 billion baht.

 

“Last year, there was a nationwide lockdown and no Songkran holidays,” he said, referring to the festival that takes place from April 13 to 15.

 

While Thailand allows some celebrations this year, it bans the street water fights during the festival in a normal year crowds pack the streets, spraying water guns in what has been described as the world’s biggest water fight.

 

Thailand has yet to lift its strict entry controls which have battered its key tourism industry, slashing foreign tourist numbers to 6.7 million last year from 40 million in 2019.

 

However, it is gradually reopening from this month halving its 14-day mandatory quarantine for overseas arrivals fully vaccinated at some tourist destinations to revive tourism.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-04-01

 

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[YetAnother]

thais' childish nature, fed yet again

[ThailandRyan]

What water festival? You mean the muted Songkran one.  Washing the buddha's, the elders and enjoying family time might be a good thing, but 6 days of drunken revelries from those that wish to ignore rulles and laws will cause more grief in the end I fear.

[tompelli]

18,000 tourists per day during 2020?

[Farmerkev]

In 6 months 102 billion spent with co payment scheme, now you predict 113 billion spend in a couple of days

[connda]

Thailand to see $3.6 bln spending during water festival

 

What "water festival?"  The RTP ensured the population that should anyone dare play in water this year it would be fines and jail time. 

[DLock]

It's the same money being recirculated.

 

There is no major new money flowing into the Economy. You will just give it back to the people in the various promotions that get abused...

 

These continual boasts on how much money they will make at Xmas, Chinese New Year, Long weekends and Songkran are meaningless.

 

Fail.

[RichardColeman]

Sorry but shouldn't it read :

Thailand to see $3.6 bln spending during non-water festival

[Daithi85]

57 minutes ago, DLock said:

It's the same money being recirculated.

 

There is no major new money flowing into the Economy. You will just give it back to the people in the various promotions that get abused...

 

These continual boasts on how much money they will make at Xmas, Chinese New Year, Long weekends and Songkran are meaningless.

 

Fail.

Can always rely on a thaivisa forum commentator to turn a positive into something negative. I actually feel sorry for people like u.  ????????????????

[starky]

These stories are just starting to turn into blah blah bs blah blah bs government or some other agency believes blah blah bs.  There must be 15 threads on here atm purporting to tell people about all the hubs, and billions of baht and people that are about to pour into Thailand. 

[DLock]

3 hours ago, Daithi85 said:

Can always rely on a thaivisa forum commentator to turn a positive into something negative. I actually feel sorry for people like u.  ????????????????

 

Newbies always make me smile with their optimism and believing the Thai Government propaganda...

 

Don't worry kid, soon you will understand Thailand and this will all make sense.

[Daithi85]

1 hour ago, DLock said:

 

Newbies always make me smile with their optimism and believing the Thai Government propaganda...

 

Don't worry kid, soon you will understand Thailand and this will all make sense.

I've been here along time Alot longer than u I'm sure  ????????

[DLock]

1 minute ago, Daithi85 said:

I've been here along time Alot longer than u I'm sure  ????????

 

Your medal is in the post. Wear it with pride Champ.

[Daithi85]

19 minutes ago, DLock said:

 

Your medal is in the post. Wear it with pride Champ.

I will thanks  ????????????????

[kevc]

They'll come out with the fantastic news that Thais spent 95 percent more this Songkran than last which is not surprising saying there wasn't one last year.

[anchadian]

It will be high road fatalities that will dominate a partially wet Songkran this year.