by Tanakorn Sangiam

BANGKOK (NNT) - Thailand’s tourism authority has announced a plan to organize Songkran celebrations across the country. The agency now anticipates an 18 billion baht revenue from both Thai and foreign tourists traveling during the festival.

 

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said a total of 3.8 million trips are expected to be made by Thai people during the Thai New Year, plus 300,000 trips by foreign tourists.

 

Highlight events for this year’s festival include the Yen Tua La Maha Songkran event and the International Amazing Splash 2023 event in Bangkok, which will be taking place at Soi Chulalongkorn 5 on 13-15 April. The TAT will also be holding Water Festival 2023 events in several locations across the country on 13-16 April.

 

Several temples in Bangkok such as Wat Pho, Wat Arun, and Wat Rakhang will be holding traditional activities for the Thai New Year, alongside major events at Tha Maharaj, Iconsiam shopping mall, and Asiatique.

 

Many provinces will have their key events organized, such as at the Old House of Chiang Mai, Ban Chiang World Heritage Cultural Square in Udon Thani, the Andamanda water park in Phuket, and a traditional Songkran event in Phra Pradaeng district of Samut Prakan, which will be taking place on 21-23 April.

 

Throughout the entire festival, the TAT will be working closely with the Tourist Police Bureau to enforce safety measures to boost confidence among both domestic and international visitors.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230405090605162

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-04-05

 

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Plucking figures out of thin air and attributing revenue generated by TAT.  ????  Dreamers!  

 

Revenue from Thai's will flow to Thai's and only a few 100,000 international visitors may, just may, have come here specifically for Songkran.   They will likely only do so the once.

Songkran tourism forecasts – high domestic expectations but lagging foreign arrivals
By Editor

 

 
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects to see 13.5 billion THB in revenue from domestic tourism during the Songkran holidays (April 13-16), up 22% from 11 billion THB last year.  However, it is far less optimistic about foreign arrivals over the traditional New Year.

 

The TAT estimates Thais will make up to 3.8 million trips to domestic attractions this Songkran, a rise of 14% from the 3.34 million trips made last year.  “If this estimate is met, it would mean domestic tourism has recovered and already surpassed the level before the Covid-19 outbreak,” said TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn.

 

Pre-Covid revenue from domestic tourism over Songkran in 2019 was recorded at 11.64 billion THB.  He added that the occupancy rate of hotels nationwide currently averages 74%, with those in the Northeast enjoying the highest average at over 80%.

 

The TAT attributed the jump in hotel occupancy to the fifth phase of its “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) scheme to stimulate domestic tourism.  The scheme offers a discount of up to 40% on accommodation and plane tickets, plus 600-baht daily coupons that can be used at participating shops.

 

TAT also forecast 305,000 foreign tourists will arrive in Thailand between April 12 and 16, up 525% from the 48,814 who visited last year amid travel restrictions.  However, the estimate is little more than half (58%) of the 522,357 foreign tourists who visited during Songkran in 2019.

 

The tourism agency expects foreign tourists to generate revenue of 5.03 billion THB during the Songkran festival, or about 60% of the 8.32 billion THB recorded in 2019.  That would see total tourism revenue at this year’s Songkran festival of 18.8 billion THB, compared with 19.96 billion in 2019.

 

Source: https://royalcoastreview.com/2023/04/songkran-tourism-forecasts-high-domestic-expectations-but-lagging-foreign-arrivals/

 

-- © Copyright Royal Coast Review 2023-04-05

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

how many are leaving

2 hours ago, webfact said:

it is far less optimistic about foreign arrivals over the traditional New Year.

Maybe they have gotten wise to the craziness and don't want to be doused with water for days!

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand’s tourism authority has announced a plan to organize Songkran celebrations across the country. The agency now anticipates an 18 billion baht revenue from both Thai and foreign tourists traveling during the festival.

Great expectations... better than the original story.

2 hours ago, smedly said:

how many are leaving

Or staying in? I currently plan to spend zilch during the 1-week Songkran in Pattaya. Having poured cold Khlong water over me, or smeared talcum-powder paste into my ears is not my thing, sorry.