Thailand will celebrate this year’s Songkran festival for three weeks nationwide, starting on April 1st, in the hope that the planned fun-filled activities will develop the traditional water-splashing event into an element of Thailand’s soft power, as well as boosting tourism and the economy, said Chai Wacharonke, the government spokesman, today.

 

The extended celebrations follow UNESCO’s recent certification of Songkran as part of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-02-07

 

- 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.

 

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This will also boost the number of traffic victims. They have lost their minds

Well Thais are rich they can afford not working for 3 weeks.

Excellent news. I look forward to 3 weeks off work.

Insanity.  I bet deaths will be at all time highs. 

Boy did I pick a great time to leave. 24th March.I'll be back in June😉

Queue the standard "I hate Songkran" posts, 555.

59 minutes ago, meauwnam said:

This will also boost the number of traffic victims. They have lost their minds

 

statistically, the average number of road traffic deaths and injuries during songkran is consistent with the average for the numbers during the rest of the year. it's media hype that feeds the 'deadly days' myth.

11 minutes ago, bbko said:

Queue the standard "I hate Songkran" posts, 555.

Queue the standard " I love songkran and if you don't like it leave" posts 555

6 minutes ago, it is what it is said:

 

statistically, the average number of road traffic deaths and injuries during songkran is consistent with the average for the numbers during the rest of the year. it's media hype that feeds the 'deadly days' myth.

They are ALL deadly days here

Pic sums it up, for kids, idiots and annoying foreigners!

I wonder how such decisions are made. Like: someone high up in the party has this idea. And then? Let's do it.

Are there any discussions or even an impact study what consequences there might be.

Or just: Ok, let's do it. We will see later what happened.

And later: Nobody could have foreseen that one... 

No! This is not a 21 day holiday with 28 deadly days. It will be the same as every year. 

Say it is an April 1st joke..

7 minutes ago, lom said:

Say it is an April 1st joke..

If only!

It was bad enough in Pattaya before.

They should rename the holiday -- Agoraphobia Promotion Month. 

2 hours ago, still kicking said:

Well Thais are rich they can afford not working for 3 weeks.

No one has suggested that it is a 3-week holiday for Thais.

2 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

Excellent news. I look forward to 3 weeks off work.

Why would you have to be off work for three weeks?

57 minutes ago, proton said:

Pic sums it up, for kids, idiots and annoying foreigners!

But only three official days for the water fights.

7 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Why would you have to be off work for three weeks?

 

Because I always take Songkran off.

Thailand to Celebrate 21 Days of Songkran in April? Really?
By Adam Judd

 

 

Over the past few days announcements have come out that appear to have driven sheer terror in some Thai expats, with the Thai Government saying this year’s Songkran will be the biggest one ever.

This announcement, which we covered here, has to do with UNESCO officially recognising the event as a cultural world heritage and Thailand hoping to further attract the event to tourists on a global scale.

 

Specifically, the statement that the event would be celebrated from April 1st to the 21st across Thailand caused a lot of panic and a lot of confusion. This was mostly because many feared this meant 21 days of water throwing.

 

For those not familiar, Songkran is the Thai New Year, also known as the water festival, and Thailand’s biggest holiday. It’s well known for many different cultural and religious activities and provides Thais with the longest holiday break of the year. For many Thais, especially those working in Bangkok, this is the one time of year they return home to see their families in their home provinces.

 

Of course, it is also known, especially in tourist zones, for wild water fights, concerts, and parties….even though Thai officials continue to downplay this part. Mostly, anyways.

 

Full story: THE PATTAYA NEWS 2024-02-08

 

- 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.

 

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The police will be out in full force. Double demerit points. 

9 hours ago, bbko said:

Queue the standard "I hate Songkran" posts, 555.

I hate Songhkran (and those who participate).

10 hours ago, still kicking said:

Well Thais are rich they can afford not working for 3 weeks.

That is puzzling me a bit... everything else must stop to accommodate tourism?

I was going to comment that the government have lost the plot but in reality they have never had one ............

"Over the past few days announcements have come out that appear to have driven sheer terror in some Thai expats,"

 

WOW ! Sheer TERROR Eh? Great reporting🤣

 

3 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

I was going to comment that the government have lost the plot but in reality they have never had one ............

Only one "Show me the money"

Typical... first do  and than think... water shortages are in sight and drought all over the country because less rainfall, but 3 weeks watersplashing is no problem. and the government has no idea that people outside Thailand  don't even know this event and maybe will be amused if they come for a visit

10 hours ago, bbko said:

Queue the standard "I hate Songkran" posts, 555.

Queue the standard posters trying to be clever and funny.........!

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand will celebrate this year’s Songkran festival for three weeks nationwide, starting on April 1st

Milking it for all it's worth... 3 weeks OMG, 3 days is more than enough.

31 minutes ago, Card said:

I hate Songhkran (and those who participate).

Stay indoors then... less hate