Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year Festival, is expected to attract at least 500,000 foreign tourists this year and generate approximately Bt14.5 billion.

Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, stated that the number of international visitors during the first four days of April was up 37% compared to the previous year. Kobkarn estimates that 500,000 or more foreign tourists would visit Thailand too during the Songkran celebrations. Hotels in major tourist destinations, like Chiang Mai, Phuket, Samui and Pattaya would be running at 78% capacity on average. That’s a 6% increase over last year.

Approximately 2 million local visitors are expected to attend the Songkran festivities, with Bangkok alone expected 2.5 million visitors.

Despite issues with Thai chartered flights, Kobkarn remains confident that the country will receive at least half a million foreign visitors during the New Year festivities. Kobkarn is also confident that the Songkran festivities will bring in approximately Bt14.5 billion in revenue.

The Thai government has also recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Russia to help revive the number of Russian tourists visiting Thailand. Last year, the country received just 1.6 million Russian visitors, down 5% from the previous year. Experts say the decline in travelers is due to the country’s economic downturn.

-- 2015-04-09

An MoU for Russian tourists, please explain?

It's an understanding that if more Russians come then Thailand will take their money without exception.

They have signed MOU's with 126 additional countries with the same terms and conditions.

I think there may be a foot note in all the MOU's that states once all money is depleted then they need to get the F@@k out of Thailand.

Don't count me in, I am out of the country to avoid Songkran amongst other easons (mainly cooling off from the +35C weather)

Very succesfull at that also, since temp here hardly get above 15C....

Edited April 10, 201511 yr by tartempion

once all money is depleted then they need to get the F@@k out of ................................... (fill in your country of choice - it applies with MoU or not)

considering the just announced tehy expect 400 000 from China for Songkran

The number of visitors from the rest of the world seems pretty low

Thailand losing out on being the HUB of ASEAN songkran celebrations?