300,000 People Expected In Yaowarat For Chinese New Year

[Jai Dee]

300,000 PEOPLE EXPECTED TO VISIT YAOWARAT OVER CHINESE NEW YEAR, WHILE SOME ARE USING THE HOLIDAY TO CROSS TO CAMBODIA TO GAMBLE

Thousands of people wearing red flocked to China Town Yaowarat (เยาวราช) yesterday, whereas in Sakaew province Thais flocked across the Mitraphab (มิตรภาพ) Bridge, received by traditional Chinese lion parades, to go gamble in Cambodia.

Yesterday thousands of people were fully packed in Yaowarat as they enjoyed the sights, activities, and the atmosphere in the grand celebration arranged to commemorate His Majesty the King's 60th year at the throne. Lion dance and kung-<deleted> demonstration have drawn much attention from the crowd. Around 300,000 people are expected to visit Yaowarat over this period, contributing to no less than 500-600 million baht of circulation within the area.

In Sakaew Province, Chinese-descendant Thais on Chinese New Year leave lined up to have their passports processed and cross over to Cambodia to gamble. Casino owners in Poi-pet (ปอยเปด) have arranged for lion parades to greet the customers the moment they cross the bridge to the Cambodian side.

The celebration is taking place in several other provinces with large Thai-Chinese population, such as Chiang Mai, Phuket and Ayutthaya.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 January 2006