Songkran Success: Tourist Surge Boosts Thai Economy

[webfact]

People splash water during the Songkran water festival to celebrate the Thai New Year in Prachinburi Province, Thailand, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

 

Thailand is basking in the glow of a tourist boom as the Songkran festival draws an impressive 666,000 international visitors, reports revealed on Tuesday. The nation welcomed roughly 10.7 million tourists in 2025, raking in a whopping 510 billion baht from tourism-related income this year.

 

The Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2025 has been dubbed a roaring success, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong. Celebrated over three days, Thai New Year festivities splashed across popular spots like Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Hat Yai, attracting crowds from across the globe. Bangkok remained the epicentre of the celebrations, with Silom Road and Khao San Road teeming with 651,295 revellers.

 

A significant influx of short-haul tourists, particularly from China and India, led to a 17.61% increase from the previous week's numbers. More long-haul visitors from Europe, taking advantage of spring school holidays, added further to the festival's success. During the Songkran week alone, 666,180 international arrivals were recorded, showing a 10.73% rise with around 95,169 arrivals per day.

 

Topping visitor numbers were Malaysians, Chinese, Indians, Russians, and British nationals. Chinese and Indian numbers soared by 28.20% and 23.56%, respectively, though the Brits seemed less interested, with a slight dip of 8.49%.

 

 

 

The Thai government is keen to maintain the touristic momentum post-Songkran, eyeing European travellers during their school spring break. The Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sport Year 2025 campaign has been a hit, with streamlined travel processes and increased flight support.

 

From January 1 to April 13, 10.73 million tourists packed their bags for Thailand, contributing to windfall tourism revenues of 516.58 billion baht. Songkran's three-day bash saw 651,295 revellers flock to hotspot Bangkok, generating 1.7 billion baht at the Sanam Luang site alone.

 

As attention turned to local festivities, the song and dance in Sanam Luang and Ratchadamnoen Avenue captivated 523,456 Thais and 34,559 foreigners. The Tourism Authority of Thailand estimated the Songkran festivities would generate about 26.5 billion baht, an 8% increase compared to last year, with foreign visitor numbers also promising a healthy rise.

 

Based on a story by Bangkok Post

 

-- 2025-04-16

 

 

[norsurin]

Bla bla bla. Again and again 

[blaze master]

Wait till the hangover sets in. 

[norsurin]

Billions of baht again and again.Im not surprised why thailadies only talk about money.The government learning them that's the most important in life 

[DonniePeverley]

How do they gage such an accurate amount when it literally just finished a few days ago ?

 

What mechanisms are they using? Tax recipets already? Spending? Are all vendors reporting to the government the day after songkran?

 

Not doubting it was busy with cheap mass tourism, but where are they getting their figures from THAT QUICK ?

[phil2407]

Never heard of the word touristic? 
 

[Gottfrid]

Almost 50k baht per head. That´s not bad. 

[ozz1]

Yes don't worry about all the people killed on the roads it's all about money money

[Ralf001]

9 minutes ago, ozz1 said:

Yes don't worry about all the people killed on the roads it's all about money money

 

Another moaner.

 

It has been statistically shown time and time again that during the long holidays in Thailand the road toll reduces from normal day to day numbers.

 

[JimHuaHin]

2 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

How do they gage such an accurate amount when it literally just finished a few days ago ?

 

What mechanisms are they using? Tax recipets already? Spending? Are all vendors reporting to the government the day after songkran?

 

Not doubting it was busy with cheap mass tourism, but where are they getting their figures from THAT QUICK ?

 TAT uses a highly sophisticated algorithm (based on quantum theory) and input random numbers to generate the above estimates.

[ikke1959]

Oh we are so happy..... On Tuesday 666.000 tourists came for Songkran, although it was the last day officially.... What a rubbish news They know on Wednesday morning already how much THB is spent, while for other things it can take years to find or produce things... example  papers from the hospital about Thaksin.. But Songkran must be a success so at midnight all the financial figures are already know so we can publish them in the morning newspapers

Quote

 

 

[Dan O]

2 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Another moaner.

 

It has been statistically shown time and time again that during the long holidays in Thailand the road toll reduces from normal day to day numbers.

 

Can you share where your getting that data from? It would be interesting reading

[Ralf001]

Just now, Dan O said:

Can you share where your getting that data from? It would be interesting reading

 

Widely published on many websites, includiing this one.

[Dan O]

2 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Widely published on many websites, includiing this one.

Can you share a link as I've never seen it published here or anywhere else

[Ralf001]

2 minutes ago, Dan O said:

Can you share a link as I've never seen it published here or anywhere else

 

Nope.

[Dan O]

2 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Nope.

Ahhh i see  

[bkk6060]

It is so fantastic they really should consider having Songkran every month.  Big bucks!

[KannikaP]

17 minutes ago, Dan O said:

Can you share where your getting that data from? It would be interesting reading

From here on AN. 38 per day in Songkran, 50 per day other times

[KannikaP]

16 minutes ago, Dan O said:

Can you share a link as I've never seen it published here or anywhere else

Really. 

 

[sqwakvfr]

I just think last year was louder, more crowded and can't see how Songkran 2025 can be classified as a "surge".  

[madone]

5 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

How do they gage such an accurate amount when it literally just finished a few days ago ?

 

 

yesterday, it finshed yesterday.

[Ralf001]

5 minutes ago, madone said:

 

yesterday, it finshed yesterday.

Pattaya runs until the 19th.

[johng]

3 minutes ago, madone said:

 

yesterday, it finshed yesterday.

Not finished in Pattaya till the 19th  and even after that further along the coast southwards  can never remember if its Barng Saray or the other one ? Barng Sean ?

[madone]

1 minute ago, Ralf001 said:

Pattaya runs until the 19th.

 

Pattaya is an outlier. National holiday ended on 15th, though some extended until today, 

[Ralf001]

6 minutes ago, madone said:

 

Pattaya is an outlier. National holiday ended on 15th, though some extended until today, 

Today is a national holiday too.

[madone]

3 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Today is a national holiday too.

Different sources give different information, but yes, most companies have included the 16th. goverment souces seem to say 15th. 

[Ralf001]

Just now, madone said:

Different sources give different information, but yes, most companies have included the 16th. goverment souces seem to say 15th. 

 

Most companies have included it as it is a national holiday.

 

April 13-15 are the conventional Songkran holidays. April 16 is a holiday in lieu of April 13 being a Sunday.

 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, ozz1 said:

Yes don't worry about all the people killed on the roads it's all about money money

Always has been, and always will be.

[Dan O]

3 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Really. 

 

I know the deaths and accidents from Songkran as it is posted. I have not seen any official posts about the differences or reductions during Songkran vs a normal day. Everything I've seen indicates the opposite and that Songkran does not show a reduction but an increase

[JoseThailand]

How pathetic