Chiang Mai attracts less local tourists during Songkran festival this year



CHIANG MAI: -- Chiang Mai Toursim Business Association says the number of tourists visiting Chiang Mai during the Songkran festival this year is lower than expected, especially local tourists.

Association chairman Pornchai Jirawatsatien forecast the lower than expected number of tourists and also revenue generated for the year because local tourists spent less and also lessened their stays in Chiang Mai.

He did not give the figure but said the main reason in the decline in local tourist number and revenues is that many provinces across the country are holding similar celebrations for the Thai New Year and so the tourists have turned to every venue.

However he said Chiang Mai still saw a 10 percent increase in the number of Asians, particularly Chinese tourists and European visitors from the predicted figure of 100,000 people.

Today is the final day of Songkran festival in Chiang Mai and which became very active and lively, especially around the Tha Phae Gate, where both Thai and foreign tourists have crowded the area to celebrate the end of this year Songkran celebrations.

Tourists, both Thais and foreigners, continued to flock into the areas around the heart of Chiang Mai city and Tha Phae Gate to celebrate the last day of the Songkran Festival since this afternoon.

Three performance stages have been set up at the Tha Phae.

Earlier in the day, the Chiang Mai provincial office participated in the traditional ceremony of washing the hands of the elderly for good luck and received blessing from the governor, Suriya Prasartbundit.

They presented the governor with garlands and sacred items before washing his hands and asked for blessings, which the ceremony is usually carried out annually as a local tradition of the authorities here.

Meanwhile a cultural watchdog network has evaluated that the Songkran celebrations in Chiang Mai during the past 3 days have been a success, as most of the public and tourists have agreed to join in the water throwing festivity by wearing proper clothes and splashing the water with good behaviors.

And the performers on all the 8 stages have also helped to carry out the celebrations decently, by avoiding dances that are inappropriate and wearing proper clothing.

But some improper performances on some stages could also be seen. Provincial authorities said they would tighten regulations next year aiming to best conserve the traditional ways of the Thai Songkran celebrations.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/chiang-mai-attracts-less-local-tourists-songkran-festival-year


-- Thai PBS 2015-04-16

Is it still going on today or what? Want to venture out this afternoon and do some cycling around Samoeng Rd without getting blasted.

Nope. It's 12-15.

In the past when the 16th was on a weekend I had slight hopes for some more watery fun, but no such luck.

I plan on waiting until next week before I start cycling again. Of course that is assuming the smoke doesn't return to dangerous levels in the meantime.

Thanks WTK. VF - I hear what you're saying. Not everyone paints inside of the lines.

Anybody been out there today who can confirm?

Thanks WTK. VF - I hear what you're saying. Not everyone paints inside of the lines.

Anybody been out there today who can confirm?

Huay Keow Road is deathly quiet. No rock bands, no crowds. Everything shut down at 22:00.

It was a noisy but fun 3 days. If I walked down the road, I knew I'd get wet.

I enjoyed it and so did the crowds.

It's so hot right now, a light splashing of water would be most welcome. Could've done with some today, but the route I chose was deserted

Sadly, light splashing doesn't seem to be common in my area. A bucket in the face while trying to avoid drunk drivers doesn't appeal to me.

I lived in Chiang Mai for four years. Good city but you have to be careful. Bad air will always be here because the government lets the big companies burn the corn fields i Chiang Rai as well as blind eye by local police who are friends or scared of local farmers. Khun PM please help!!!

How can this be possible they were reporting a 40% increase in tourism. They must be wrong, we should wait until tommorrows news first.

I don't know how they account for their numbers, but Chiang Mai seemed packed this year. Sure glad it's over.

roads very quite this afternoon especially around tapae gate,remarkable.

I went to the moat on the 13th and the crowd was much smaller than last year, it concentrated around Thapae gate, there was a big crowd there, but farther away only a few people played. Last year it was crowded all the way from Changpuak to Thapae gate. I was really wondering what happened, I blamed it on the news of banning the mobile water warfare trucks from around the moat.

That is good news. It means that even Thai people are getting bored of this kiddish festival and don't see a reason to travel for it, but to dig themselves in to not become victim of aggression in disguise.

Ah!! Songkran 2015 redux! It is worth thinking about Songkran now that everyone has toweled off.

The tourist-attracting festivities (a collosal water fight) are really an unfortunate aspect of the festival except for TAT, hotel owners, restaurants and bars.

There is nothing at all wrong with having fun, but unfortunately it is too often in excess. The traditional gentler and more thoughtful nature of the festival is basically meaningless for tourists (and many residents here who have neglected to pay attention to tradition or haven't bothered to realize that they are in NorthernThailand but in some sort of expat bubble. They seem too intent on fun and games and, for too many, a lot of sometimes drunken mayhem. Again, no argument against a good time, but meaningless excess is meaningless excess. That's cultural homicide!

Here is a suggestion for the lilly white farang naked but for his very fat belly hanging over his shorts one afternoon in front of a Loi Kroh bars on the moat where he played with one of the pay-for-fun doxies: Stay home next year, please, and have fun there!

Ah!! Songkran 2015 redux! It is worth thinking about Songkran now that everyone has toweled off.

The tourist-attracting festivities (a collosal water fight) are really an unfortunate aspect of the festival except for TAT, hotel owners, restaurants and bars.

There is nothing at all wrong with having fun, but unfortunately it is too often in excess. The traditional gentler and more thoughtful nature of the festival is basically meaningless for tourists (and many residents here who have neglected to pay attention to tradition or haven't bothered to realize that they are in NorthernThailand but in some sort of expat bubble. They seem too intent on fun and games and, for too many, a lot of sometimes drunken mayhem. Again, no argument against a good time, but meaningless excess is meaningless excess. That's cultural homicide!

Here is a suggestion for the lilly white farang naked but for his very fat belly hanging over his shorts one afternoon in front of a Loi Kroh bars on the moat where he played with one of the pay-for-fun doxies: Stay home next year, please, and have fun there!

It's certainly not the first time that I've had trouble following one of your late night musings, but....... you seem to be affirming that this archetypal "lilly(sic) white farang" that you spotted in front of "a Loi Kroh bars on the moat" (??) on that one afternoon was unclothed entirely, except for his generous midsection. And that (despite this fact), his modestly attired midsection was "hanging over his shorts".

Does this mean that his shorts were being worn by a third person?

I'm confused. Please elucidate?