TAT ready to hold Songkran celebrations nationwide
By English News



BANGKOK, March 24 - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said it has poured Bt20 million into organising Songkran Festival celebrations in 13 major cities nationwide to boost the country's tourism industry.

Wilaiwan Twitsri, TAT deputy governor for Goods and Tourism Division, said the 13 locations are in Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Nong Kai, Nakhon Phanom, Khon Kaen, Bangkok, Phra Pradang, Phuket, Samui Island, Hat Yai, Pattaya and Suphanburi.

The theme of this year's celebration is to give importance of water on Thai people's daily life, from birth to death, as well as, focus on the family gathering on to celebrate Thai New Year.

Following concern that political chaos could lead to visitors staying away, Ms Wilaiwan said TAT has instructed offices abroad to clarify the issue that there are still many places to celebrate Songkran and Bangkok is not the only place.

She said this year's Songkran celebration has received good feedback with 70 per cent of tour bookings in the northern region. Full booking is expected during Songkran period.

The TAT deputy governor said Thailand targets 4.4 million tourists during Songkran -- 4 million Thais and 400,000 foreign visitors -- with about Bt47 billion to be circulated.

Regarding the controversial Songkran Festival 2014 planned in Singapore, Ms Wilaiwan said the event is not a problem to Thai tourism industry and it can be positive aspect helping to promote the Thai festival abroad.

Ms Wilaiwan noted that the event is organised by private organisers and not opened for public for free.

Meanwhile, Sa-nga Ruangwattanakul, president of Khao San Road Business Association, said despite the emergency decree being lifted, less tourists are expected to join the festival at Khaosan Road which is set for April 12-15 this year.

The association president said it will take time to regain confidence from foreign tourists to reach the same level of their presence during Songkran last year, adding that tour bookings were at 80 per cent in 2013 Songkran festival, while this year, as of now only 50 per cent have made reservations.

Ms Sa-nga said those who are able to decide to visit Thailand right away are Asian tourists, while it takes a longer time for European tourist to plan their vacations here. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-03-24

TAT as usual, suppose your office has plenty of Evian. If it's about water for life-birth to death-----SAVE the stuff this year, spend 20 million on running all the taps dry.

I am sure All Thai important dates are good for tourism, to exploit. Because of the drought in so many areas I do not think it is appropriate. UNLESS you are OK in your cushy spa's and hotel meeting places to promote.

That photo should have a drunken out of his mind farang blasting a few gallons of water through the opponents cranium with the pvc assault water weapon to be more accurate.

And just what would the money be spent on? Concerts? Road safety? What a waste. The tourists aren't coming this year and the Thais already know how to celebrate with the birth to death theme in heavy tow already. And the country is on the verge of a water shortage. Maybe they should spend the money on shamans to pray for rain.

The image they use is of two nicely dressed and polite Thais happily sprinkling water on each other.

We all know that is NOT the reality of Songkran as it is practiced these days.

Songkran now is drunken hooligans mindlessly throwing buckets of water into traffic and deliberately targeting Farangs to humiliate then.

Not to mention the hundreds of dead that will be killed in traffic accidents, Thai women who will be assaulted and even raped by THAI men during their "celebration" of Songkran ,,,, we've all seen the newspaper reports In past years.

Thailand and Songkran illustrate what is happening to Thailand and the "Land Of Smiles" in the last two or three decades.

I first cane to Thailand in 1977 ..... and I have seen with my own eyes how life in Thailand has degenerated since that time.

No matter what the paid apologists of TAT say, Thailand is sick, and going down hill rapidly.

Songkran Is a perfect example of that spreading sickness in the modern Thai lifestyle..

I am leaving Thailand for 3 weeks starting on the 13th of April.... Songkran time.

But I doubt TAT will publish that fact ... just the bulls--t fluff they do publish.

Will the PDRC and Mr. Suthep be there to block the celebration of Songkran festival? I sincerely doubt that Songkran will be celebrated this year...

(quote)..."Thailand targets 4.4 million "tourists" during Songkhran.....4 million Thais and 400,000 foreign visitors..."

So Thais are now classed as "tourists" in their own country....I guess thats one way of getting the BS TAT tourist numbers up......

What they dont say is how many people will be leaving Thailand to get away from the madness.

Will the PDRC and Mr. Suthep be there to block the celebration of Songkran festival? I sincerely doubt that Songkran will be celebrated this year...

I recall a few Songkrans where they terrorized a neighborhood and enlightened a fuel tanker and a bus........................Hey wait, that wasn't Suthep's gang.

The image they use is of two nicely dressed and polite Thais happily sprinkling water on each other.

We all know that is NOT the reality of Songkran as it is practiced these days.

Songkran now is drunken hooligans mindlessly throwing buckets of water into traffic and deliberately targeting Farangs to humiliate then.

Not to mention the hundreds of dead that will be killed in traffic accidents, Thai women who will be assaulted and even raped by THAI men during their "celebration" of Songkran ,,,, we've all seen the newspaper reports In past years.

Thailand and Songkran illustrate what is happening to Thailand and the "Land Of Smiles" in the last two or three decades.

I first cane to Thailand in 1977 ..... and I have seen with my own eyes how life in Thailand has degenerated since that time.

No matter what the paid apologists of TAT say, Thailand is sick, and going down hill rapidly.

Songkran Is a perfect example of that spreading sickness in the modern Thai lifestyle..

I am leaving Thailand for 3 weeks starting on the 13th of April.... Songkran time.

But I doubt TAT will publish that fact ... just the bulls--t fluff they do publish.

"I am leaving Thailand for 3 weeks starting on the 13th of April.... Songkran time.

But I doubt TAT will publish that fact .."

You're absolutely right, TAT, and most other people in Thailand, have no interest whatsoever in you or your travels so your absence will neither be noticed nor publicised.

Will the PDRC and Mr. Suthep be there to block the celebration of Songkran festival? I sincerely doubt that Songkran will be celebrated this year...

You do know that Songkran is the Thai New Year? There is no way that anything will stop that celebration.

(quote)..."Thailand targets 4.4 million "tourists" during Songkhran.....4 million Thais and 400,000 foreign visitors..."

So Thais are now classed as "tourists" in their own country....I guess thats one way of getting the BS TAT tourist numbers up....

Of course Thais away from their home areas visiting other parts of the country to celebrate Songkran are tourists. What else could they possibly be? You don't have to be a foreigner to be a tourist, in any country.

What they dont say is how many people will be leaving Thailand to get away from the madness.

How many is that then?

Will the PDRC and Mr. Suthep be there to block the celebration of Songkran festival? I sincerely doubt that Songkran will be celebrated this year...

You do know that Songkran is the Thai New Year? There is no way that anything will stop that celebration.

Nope, not even the associated mindless carnage on the roads ever puts a dampener on the celebrations.

(quote)..."Thailand targets 4.4 million "tourists" during Songkhran.....4 million Thais and 400,000 foreign visitors..."

So Thais are now classed as "tourists" in their own country....I guess thats one way of getting the BS TAT tourist numbers up....

Of course Thais away from their home areas visiting other parts of the country to celebrate Songkran are tourists. What else could they possibly be? You don't have to be a foreigner to be a tourist, in any country.

Well, traditionally it's Thais returning home to be with family for the holiday. You're not normally classified as a tourist in your home town. Maybe the 4 million will be heading for the beach ? Times and traditions, maybe they are a changin' !

TAT figures are my absolute favorite work of fiction. I look forward to every time they write a new story.

Let me know when it starts....i will be leaving during that time.

20mn baht? 600k USD?

Surely a missing zero. That barely pays to print posters.

The theme of this year's celebration is to give importance of water on Thai people's daily life....

What better way to do that than by wasting gallons of it.

Wonder how Songkran will be. Trying to avoid water and the bullets and missiles from the Jatuporn militia.

(quote)..."Thailand targets 4.4 million "tourists" during Songkhran.....4 million Thais and 400,000 foreign visitors..."

So Thais are now classed as "tourists" in their own country....I guess thats one way of getting the BS TAT tourist numbers up......

you've never heard of domestics tourism?

TAT largest market is domestics tourism and will most likely always be, have you walked into the office around the country and seen the massive amount of information for Thai people, and the limited amount of information in English.

he says it will not be free, can we expect a dual pricing structure

Same sh*te - different year. The only thing likely to change is the amount of dead.

Wonder how Songkran will be. Trying to avoid water and the bullets and missiles from the Jatuporn militia.

Well, since blowing a whistle at a red shirt will get you a few M79's, I think it's prudent to go and ask "Sir, are you a red shirt?" before blasting the eyes out of an opponent with the water cannon. Should he be one, I guess you'll be peppered with a barrage of AK-47 slugs, after you've been beaten to pulp and an M79 has been inserted in your <deleted>, that is.