Thailand’s plan to extend Songkran raises eyebrows and 5.1 billion baht in soft power bid

[webfact]

 

Thailand‘s iconic Songkran Festival might be turning into a month-long water extravaganza in a bid to boost the country’s soft power, or a potential disaster waiting to happen?

 

Thailand’s political arena is buzzing with controversy as the Pheu Thai Party, led by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, unveils an audacious plan to extend the beloved Songkran Festival. The goal? To solidify the nation’s soft power on the global stage.

 

While promoting Songkran as Thailand’s cultural ambassador seems like a charming idea, critics argue that encouraging water festivities throughout April could have unforeseen consequences. Imagine water shortages and disgruntled entrepreneurs protesting against the potential business downturn.

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisa

Photo courtesy of Caxton

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-12-04

 

- 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.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

[scubascuba3]

Bad news, already too many days in Pattaya, 1 would be enough

[Geoffggi]

Absolutely stupid idea, maybe the government forget that not everyone likes walking about soaked all day also as has been mentioned in the post every year they issue warnings around this time for people to conserve water why do these people never thoroughly think things through before making brash statements

[stoner]

Another dumb idea.

[jacko45k]

Yes, keep it going along with selling alcohol until 4am... what could possibly go wrong!

[ezzra]

A nonsensical and a childish 'festival' that gone way too far from it's original purpose and tradition...

[keithkarmann]

40 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

Absolutely stupid idea, maybe the government forget that not everyone likes walking about soaked all day also as has been mentioned in the post every year they issue warnings around this time for people to conserve water why do these people never thoroughly think things through before making brash statements

I believe something lacking in the brain department.

[ikke1959]

Soft power schedule in Thailand to atrack tourists. January month celebrations for Chinese New Year, February month of Valentines's Day, March Lisa's famous Buriram balls, April Songkran month, May month of sticky rice and mango, June the month of Pad Thai and green curry July month to celebrate Kao Pan Saa and Asaharn Buchaa. August month of Mother's Day, September the month of the rainy season OCtober month for Halloween. November month of Loy Kratong and December Christmas and New Years celebrations.. tourist will cue up for these soft power events

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand‘s iconic Songkran Festival might be turning into a month-long water extravaganza in a bid to boost the country’s soft power, or a potential disaster waiting to happen?

Thailand really knows how to milk something to death....

[newbee2022]

Thailand, the country of carnival and fun fair??

It's embarrassing, isn't it?

Thailand has so much more to offer.

 

[newnative]

Terrible idea.

[daveAustin]

Cue boring boomers whining about getting wet 😂

This topic never fails to rouse them.
It is a good idea for entertainment purposes (gov is thinking about keeping the proles happy and revenues from visitors) but bad mainly for road accident casualties. Forget about water usage. In CM, where it has always gone on for a week or more, they draw it from the klongs. I hope this does happen, if only to wind up the boomers. 

[stoner]

4 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

gov is thinking about keeping the proles happy and revenues from visitors

 

this is usually done without carnival tricks. you know things like 

 

infrastructure updates and maintenance

safe holiday environments

great service and hospitality

professional police forces

keeping thailand clean

sidewalks that can be walked on....you know basic things like that

 

but hey lets give somchai another few weeks to drink his face off and possibly kill one of your friends or children. 

 

im all for it. 

 

ps....will you mind if during that month i stand outside your residence and drench you with water every single time you come and go.

 

[Henryford]

24 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Cue boring boomers whining about getting wet 😂

This topic never fails to rouse them.
It is a good idea for entertainment purposes (gov is thinking about keeping the proles happy and revenues from visitors) but bad mainly for road accident casualties. Forget about water usage. In CM, where it has always gone on for a week or more, they draw it from the klongs. I hope this does happen, if only to wind up the boomers. 

 

Boring boomers? does anyone like having a bucket of cold dirty water dumped on their head several times a day?

[soalbundy]

59 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Soft power schedule in Thailand to atrack tourists. January month celebrations for Chinese New Year, February month of Valentines's Day, March Lisa's famous Buriram balls, April Songkran month, May month of sticky rice and mango, June the month of Pad Thai and green curry July month to celebrate Kao Pan Saa and Asaharn Buchaa. August month of Mother's Day, September the month of the rainy season OCtober month for Halloween. November month of Loy Kratong and December Christmas and New Years celebrations.. tourist will cue up for these soft power events

Surely they've missed out on a free STD check up week, meet your favorite bar girl at the clinic, consolation prizes for a HIV infection.

[jacko45k]

3 minutes ago, Henryford said:

 

Boring boomers? does anyone like having a bucket of cold dirty water dumped on their head several times a day?

It goes on rather too long in the Pattaya area, where hiding from the giggling fools may be needed for 10-12 days.....a month of such is just a silly idea. (That said, a heatwave hot season is forecast... it may just be needed!)

[PETERTHEEATER]

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Yes, keep it going along with selling alcohol until 4am... what could possibly go wrong!

When the inebriated revellers run out of water for their weapons they will load with beer. Cue roadside sellers of chilled Chang at 150 a bottle😀

[dinsdale]

I will guarantee you that 99.99% of all Thais will be against this. Just another brainless idea from the empty heads that run the country.

[parallelman]

'Not enough people having accidents on the roads...let's 'up it' and see if we can break previous records.'

[VillageIdiot]

Just another tourism booster from the usual suspects.

Hopefully it will be scotched before it becomes a ghastly reality.

[alex8912]

1 hour ago, stoner said:

 

this is usually done without carnival tricks. you know things like 

 

infrastructure updates and maintenance

safe holiday environments

great service and hospitality

professional police forces

keeping thailand clean

sidewalks that can be walked on....you know basic things like that

 

but hey lets give somchai another few weeks to drink his face off and possibly kill one of your friends or children. 

 

im all for it. 

 

ps....will you mind if during that month i stand outside your residence and drench you with water every single time you come and go.

 

Would you like some nice cheese 🧀 to accompany your whine? 

[sungod]

And this person is being touted as a future PM?

[Thingamabob]

An utterly ridiculous idea. There will be no benefit to business, probably the reverse, general chaos, and water being wasted everywhere 

[Ben Zioner]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

promoting Songkran as Thailand’s cultural ambassador

Says it all: a show of total idiocy to represent the country.

[stoner]

11 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

Would you like some nice cheese 🧀 to accompany your whine? 

 

when one has no retort they resort to name calling. 

 

class. 

[morrobay]

They are really thrashing around now on these tourism ideas , every day something including the chinese

Are the tourist numbers that bad? Sure does not look like it in Pattaya 

 

 

 

[actonion]

Taking a Thai festival  and turning it into a Tourist / Thai water fight  just to earn more money, they'd sell their  own grandmother for a few extra $$........Does this mean   it will also be a  1 month long pubic holiday too........... Thailand the hub of public holidays

[Gottfrid]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

potential disaster waiting to happen?

Exactly! People throwing water on me for a full month, will meet a grim destiny.

[alex8912]

17 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

when one has no retort they resort to name calling. 

 

class. 

From your classy post it may be time for yah to head back west or to Singapore buddy. BTW what name did I call you lol?? However by your rude  " somchai" comment you may need a mirror in your new home as well. 

[klauskunkel]

Quote

Thailand’s plan to extend Songkran

It's not "Thailand’s plan", it's a Pheu Thai brain fart