Songkran festival in Chiang Mai to draw in millions of tourists

[webfact]

 

Anticipation builds as the Songkran festival in Chiang Mai, set to span 10 days, is projected to pull in millions of tourists, raking in an estimated 20 billion baht in revenue.

 

This year’s observance of the festival, scheduled from April 7 to 17, is particularly special as it not only seeks to uphold the local Lanna culture but also marks the city’s 728th anniversary, shared Deputy Governor of Chiang Mai, Weerapong Rithrod, and the city’s Mayor, Assanee Buranupakorn.

 

This year’s celebration stands apart from previous ones as the festival has recently been added to UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list. Additionally, the Ministry of Culture has chosen the province as one of the five with the most iconic cultures and traditions. The festival will be a harmonious mix of cultural preservation and modern Songkran enjoyment activities, added Weerapong.

Assanee emphasised that, alongside the preservation of cultures and traditions, the festival also aims to provide a significant boost to the province’s economy and tourism. He foresees the event attracting millions of domestic and international tourists to the province.

Yet, not all is rosy. Paisarn Sukjarean, president of the Thai Hotels Association’s Upper Northern Chapter, shared that while foreign tourists have begun reserving hotel rooms in Chiang Mai, there has been a slower uptake among local tourists, possibly due to the prevailing air pollution in the province.

 

Nonetheless, he remains optimistic, expecting a surge in local bookings as the festival nears. Smaller hotels and those within the three-to-four-star range are likely to be filled by Thai tourists, he expressed, with a confidence that 60% of hotel rooms will be occupied, reported Bangkok Post.

 

To ensure the safety and security of festival-goers, preparations are underway by the Provincial police to deploy 1,500 officers in the Chiang Mai city area, while an additional 3,000 officers will be assigned to cover the entire province.

 

In related news, Chiang Mai recently ascended to an undesirable top spot on the global stage as it experiences severe air pollution, making it the most polluted city in the world. The air quality in this northern Thai city has reached levels that pose significant health risks due to the pervasive spread of PM2.5 particles.

 

by Mitch Connor

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-23

 

- Discover how Cigna Insurance can protect you with a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment. For more information on expat health insurance click here.

 

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[Pique Dard]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

Anticipation builds as the Songkran festival in Chiang Mai, set to span 10 days, is projected to pull in millions of tourists,

....who will fill their lungs with an air that may one day make them regret ever having visited this city!

[VocalNeal]

Just now, Pique Dard said:

....who will fill their lungs with an air that may one day make them regret ever having visited this city!

 

Q. Do you know what is in the air that has disastrous long-term effects on most creatures on the planet? 

 

A. Oxygen.

[connda]

Songkran festival in Chiang Mai to draw in millions of tourists

<cough cough cough>

Maybe if enough water is sprayed in the air, folks might be able to see Doi Suthep from the northwest end of the moat.  Maybe.    Or maybe not.

[JoePai]

seeks to uphold the local Lanna culture  

 

By soaking everyone with water guns ?

[OneMoreFarang]

Hopefully all tourists who want to get wet will go to Chiang Mai or anywhere far away from Bangkok.

Enjoy!

[bugger bognor]

The pollution is no longer a secret the world knows let see how it affects the numbers and Thai buissines profits when they loose out on money that the only motivator to pressure the government to take real action not just empty words

 

[Sqoop]

Millions of tourists to chiang mai ? Perhaps they exaggerate ?

 

 

 

[Advocatus Diaboli]

1 minute ago, Sqoop said:

Millions of tourists to chiang mai ? Perhaps they exaggerate ?

Is this TIT for TAT? One calculator for another!

[Guderian]

Ten days? That's longer than Pattaya. I hope this doesn't become an inter-city competition to see who can hold the longest water throwing festival.

[Tarteso]

Enjoy the pollution 😷 

[sqwakvfr]

Millions of tourists in a 10 day span?  Logistically that seem like “mission impossible”.  Even if every international and domestic flight was packed along with buses, trains and cars “millions”?  Based upon my experience of living in CNX for over 7 yeas the people here are not as friendly as the image that is portrayed.  The main draw of CNX are 3 things:  1) It is cheap 2) It is cheap 3) It is cheap.  

Edited March 23 by sqwakvfr

[bkk6060]

Not just the air, but the construction on the roads in and around the inner city is horrendous.  Big holes in the roadways you have to zig zag to single lanes to get past it creating a major traffic jam now.  Good luck.  Bangkok is actually the best to be from my experience as many leave the city.

[Aussie999]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Anticipation builds as the Songkran festival in Chiang Mai, set to span 10 days, is projected to pull in millions of tourists, raking in an estimated 20 billion baht in revenue.

 

This year’s observance of the festival, scheduled from April 7 to 17, is particularly special as it not only seeks to uphold the local Lanna culture but also marks the city’s 728th anniversary, shared Deputy Governor of Chiang Mai, Weerapong Rithrod, and the city’s Mayor, Assanee Buranupakorn.

 

This year’s celebration stands apart from previous ones as the festival has recently been added to UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list. Additionally, the Ministry of Culture has chosen the province as one of the five with the most iconic cultures and traditions. The festival will be a harmonious mix of cultural preservation and modern Songkran enjoyment activities, added Weerapong.

Assanee emphasised that, alongside the preservation of cultures and traditions, the festival also aims to provide a significant boost to the province’s economy and tourism. He foresees the event attracting millions of domestic and international tourists to the province.

Yet, not all is rosy. Paisarn Sukjarean, president of the Thai Hotels Association’s Upper Northern Chapter, shared that while foreign tourists have begun reserving hotel rooms in Chiang Mai, there has been a slower uptake among local tourists, possibly due to the prevailing air pollution in the province.

 

Nonetheless, he remains optimistic, expecting a surge in local bookings as the festival nears. Smaller hotels and those within the three-to-four-star range are likely to be filled by Thai tourists, he expressed, with a confidence that 60% of hotel rooms will be occupied, reported Bangkok Post.

 

To ensure the safety and security of festival-goers, preparations are underway by the Provincial police to deploy 1,500 officers in the Chiang Mai city area, while an additional 3,000 officers will be assigned to cover the entire province.

 

In related news, Chiang Mai recently ascended to an undesirable top spot on the global stage as it experiences severe air pollution, making it the most polluted city in the world. The air quality in this northern Thai city has reached levels that pose significant health risks due to the pervasive spread of PM2.5 particles.

 

by Mitch Connor

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-23

 

- Discover how Cigna Insurance can protect you with a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment. For more information on expat health insurance click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe
 

Where do they get the numbers from, unless it's Thais returning home,  the pollution levels have been report globally...the Thai PM is reported as saying he won't declare a national disaster,  because... wait for it... it could affect tourist numbers, partly because travel insurance would be cancelled.... so let people get sick, as long as the money comes in.... Just how sick is the Thai PM/government. 

Edited March 23 by Aussie999

[fittobethaied]

That's a bit of a stretch if you ask me. Maybe a few hundred thousand, but certainly not millions! If even one million came by aircraft at 200 people per plane load over 10 days would be 500 plane loads per day. And where are they all staying? Rubish!

[Deez]

Good time to leave.

[mran66]

1 hour ago, Sqoop said:

Millions of tourists to chiang mai ? Perhaps they exaggerate ?

 

 

 

 

No. They just get lost with the zeros after 2 of them. Thousand or million or billion are all about the same. 

[Marco51]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Anticipation builds as the Songkran festival in Chiang Mai, set to span 10 days, is projected to pull in millions of tourists, raking in an estimated 20 billion baht in revenue.

 

This year’s observance of the festival, scheduled from April 7 to 17, is particularly special as it not only seeks to uphold the local Lanna culture but also marks the city’s 728th anniversary, shared Deputy Governor of Chiang Mai, Weerapong Rithrod, and the city’s Mayor, Assanee Buranupakorn.

 

This year’s celebration stands apart from previous ones as the festival has recently been added to UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list. Additionally, the Ministry of Culture has chosen the province as one of the five with the most iconic cultures and traditions. The festival will be a harmonious mix of cultural preservation and modern Songkran enjoyment activities, added Weerapong.

Assanee emphasised that, alongside the preservation of cultures and traditions, the festival also aims to provide a significant boost to the province’s economy and tourism. He foresees the event attracting millions of domestic and international tourists to the province.

Yet, not all is rosy. Paisarn Sukjarean, president of the Thai Hotels Association’s Upper Northern Chapter, shared that while foreign tourists have begun reserving hotel rooms in Chiang Mai, there has been a slower uptake among local tourists, possibly due to the prevailing air pollution in the province.

 

Nonetheless, he remains optimistic, expecting a surge in local bookings as the festival nears. Smaller hotels and those within the three-to-four-star range are likely to be filled by Thai tourists, he expressed, with a confidence that 60% of hotel rooms will be occupied, reported Bangkok Post.

 

To ensure the safety and security of festival-goers, preparations are underway by the Provincial police to deploy 1,500 officers in the Chiang Mai city area, while an additional 3,000 officers will be assigned to cover the entire province.

 

In related news, Chiang Mai recently ascended to an undesirable top spot on the global stage as it experiences severe air pollution, making it the most polluted city in the world. The air quality in this northern Thai city has reached levels that pose significant health risks due to the pervasive spread of PM2.5 particles.

 

by Mitch Connor

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-23

 

- Discover how Cigna Insurance can protect you with a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment. For more information on expat health insurance click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe
 

Right! Any local inhabitant I know goes to the supermarket at the beginning, well before 11 AM when the hillbillie pickups with water barrels and drums start rolling in, stocks up for 2 weeks and locks himself in. Hoping of course not to have another open air karaoke , live "music" beer sales, band stand to promote the surrounding shops and malls and other "happy partying tourists" anywhere near their nightly accoustic circus they already have from racing motorbikes and screwed up, sorry, tuned up cars. And surely the opening hour zones are just a slight idea , nothing serious, after all who needs to sleep or watch TV or even, the gods beware, read a book.

Cheers and down the hatch. May the boozers run each other over and leave the grown up people alive. Chaio!

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Anticipation builds as the Songkran festival in Chiang Mai, set to span 10 days, is projected to pull in millions of tourists, raking in an estimated 20 billion baht in revenue.

Chaing Mai one of the most polluted cities in the world.

No wonder the PM didn't want to call it a disaster zone, stop all that money coming in, just let the population choke a bit longer...

That's how much he cares.

Edited March 23 by hotchilli

[nobodysfriend]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

set to span 10 days, is projected to pull in millions of tourists, raking in an estimated 20 billion baht in revenue.

 

 

They always dream of millions that spend billions ... they count the money before they have it ... greedy bunch of dreamers ...

[LALes]

This PM is the biggest carnival barker I've ever seen.  

[Gottfrid]

Yeah, of course. Now we see money. Not enough that pollution kills both the citizens and the expats living in the city. Now we need to make tourists sick as well.

Edited March 23 by Gottfrid

[GammaGlobulin]

Stock up on food, and don't venture forth into the madding crowd.

 

[Brian Hull]

It won't happen of course. The government's predictions are never even close. I can't imagine grown-up foreign tourists wanting to come to CM to have buckets of water thrown over them. I lived there for 6 years and all the expats stayed indoors and avoided Songkran like the plague. It's only fun for kids and immature adults.

[newbee2022]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

in millions of tourists, raking in an estimated 20 billion baht in revenue.

Hopefully NOT 🙏🙏🙏

[PETERTHEEATER]

5 hours ago, Pique Dard said:

....who will fill their lungs with an air that may one day make them regret ever having visited this city!

Hence the expression "Choke dee khrap"

[ujayujay]

No, millions of tourists don't come to Chiang Mai because of Songkran, every child has now heard about the city with the worst air in the world😩

[rudi49jr]

If you fancy a good pneumonia or bronchitis (or worse), you should indeed come to Chiang Mai. If not, stay the hell away from the heavy air pollution that plagues the north for months every year and that the authorities can’t be bothered to do something about.

[RichardColeman]

Coming soon, Songkran water tax for foreigners - and blaming them for up and coming droughts for wasting it

[connda]

5 hours ago, JoePai said:

seeks to uphold the local Lanna culture  

 

By soaking everyone with water guns ?

Lanna culture in the 21st Century:  Deadly, choking PM 2.5 "dust" and uncontrolled forest arson and agricultural burning. 

I talked with my wife and she assures me it wasn't like this when she was younger.