I read somewhere the other day that the next long weekend would be August 12,13,14,15 but I haven't heard anything official about making the Friday,(the 13th), a public holiday(to promote tourism).

On the grounds of superstition alone they should do so, but as anyone else heard anything?

I heard it too and believe schools are closed. But didn't see an official announcement yet.

I heard it too and believe schools are closed. But didn't see an official announcement yet.

I have it on the Thaivisa 2010 calendar as a public holiday which I gleaned from the Internet when making it.

August

*August 12 (Thursday) - H.M. Queen’s Birthday

*Update:

Friday August 13 will be an additional day’s holiday

http://www.thaizer.com/festivals/thailand-public-and-bank-holidays-2010/

And here > http://www.qppstudio.net/bankholidays2010/thailand.htm

And one more > http://bangkok.angloinfo.com/countries/thailand/pub_hols.asp

It was publicly announced some months ago.

Why does it promote tourism? Do they mean internal - like Bankokians buzzing off to CM for the weekend? Can't see anyone jumping on a plane from farang-land because of an extra day when everything is shut. Surely internally its better if people work the day and earn nmoney for the ecconomy than get an extra day - given that the vast majority will just stay at home that day - or do what they normally do.

Surely internally its better if people work the day and earn nmoney for the ecconomy than get an extra day

In a work environment where utilization is 100% of capacity this would be true. From my own experience this is not the case. A glut of overstaffing and idle workers in the office and retail environments would lead me to believe that if people are going to have an extra holiday and spend more moeny it would be better than simply paying them to show up at work and be useless. The Thais who make real contributions to their companies will be working from home anyways on the 13th.