Governor Sittipunt praised this year’s Songkran events, which were held on a full scale compared to the subdued events of previous years during the pandemic. According to the BMA, around 20,000 people visited Lan Khon Muang Plaza in front of Bangkok City Hall, while 50,000 people visited Khao San Road each day. In Silom, there were between 25,000 and 30,000 visitors on the first day, rising to between 35,000 and 40,000 on the second day, and approximately 50,000 on the third day.

Meanwhile, Siam Square and the Pathumwan district attracted approximately 900,000 to 1 million people over the course of the four-day festival, highlighting the enduring popularity of Songkran among both Thais and foreigners alike.

Governor Sittipunt acknowledged that the crowding problem on Khao San Road was due to an excessive number of revelers. To address this issue, a one-way walking route was implemented on April 14. With next year’s Songkran festival set to be even bigger and better than ever, the expansion of the Khao San water splashing zone promises to be a welcome development for locals and tourists alike.

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Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt discussed the 2023 Songkran festivities in Bangkok and the number of tourists who attended. He stated that this year’s Songkran celebrations had been meticulously planned.

This was in contrast to previous years, when the COVID-19 situation had not yet subsided.

During Songkran, approximately 20,000 people visited Lan Khon Mueang Plaza in front of Bangkok City Hall to participate in activities, according to the governor. Every day, approximately 50,000 people visited Khao San Road. On the first day of Songkran, there were 25,000-30,000 visitors in Silom, another of Bangkok’s major water splashing locations, 35,000-40,000 on the second day, and around 50,000 on the third day. Over the course of four days, approximately 900,000 to one million people visited Siam Square and the surrounding area within Pathumwan district.

According to the governor, these figures demonstrate the popularity of Songkran activities in Bangkok among Thais and foreigners.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will build on the results of this year’s Songkran efforts and draw on the lessons learned. Mr. Chadchart stated that the problem on Khao San Rd. was caused by an excessive number of revelers. On April 14, Bangkok authorities implemented a one-way walking route for revelers, reducing overcrowding, he said.

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The trip of every tour company typically included a stop at Koh Miang or Koh Si, which houses the park’s office and food shop. Princess Beach, a stunning 400-meter stretch of fine white sand, was a popular destination for swimming and snorkeling, with coral formations scattered near the rocks. Visitors could also take a natural walking path to Lan Khor Luang viewpoint and enjoy a small beach near the security unit of the Phang Nga Naval Base.

Reports on the collection of fees for the Similan Islands National Park during the Songkran festival indicated that a total of 2,653 tourists visited on April 11, with a fee collection of 1,005,050 baht. On April 12, 2,600 tourists paid a total of 809,600 baht, while on April 13, 2,533 tourists generated a fee collection of 542,450 baht. Finally, on April 14, a total of 2,869 tourists paid 775,900 baht in fees.

Those who wish to see the beauty of the Similan Islands should plan their visit soon, as the park is set to temporarily close on May 16, 2023, and will reopen for tourism on October 15, 2023.

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It was predicted that around 300,000 international tourists would visit Thailand during the extended holiday period, accounting for approximately 60% of all visitors to the country during the same period in 2019. The TAT is optimistic about the future, estimating that the overall tourism revenue for 2023 will be around 2.38 trillion baht. This includes 1.5 trillion baht from up to 30 million international arrivals, while Thai tourists are expected to generate roughly 800 million baht.

The Economic and Business Forecast Centre of the Thai Chamber of Commerce University has also released a report on pre-pandemic consumer spending behavior during the 2019 Songkran celebrations. The report estimated that overall spending during that year’s Songkran festivities was approximately 135 billion baht. However, due to the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic, the TAT predicted that consumer spending for this year’s celebrations would be slightly lower, at an estimated 125 billion baht.

The Songkran festival is a significant event in Thailand and is celebrated with much fervor and enthusiasm. The festival marks the Thai New Year and is a time for family gatherings, religious ceremonies, and water fights. The festivities are spread over several days and involve various traditions, such as the pouring of water on Buddha images and the visiting of temples.

In conclusion, the Songkran festival is not only an important cultural event in Thailand but also a major source of revenue for the country’s tourism industry. The estimated 18.5 billion baht spent during the 2023 celebrations highlights the significance of the event in boosting the country’s economy. Despite the pandemic’s impact, the TAT remains optimistic about the future and expects the festival to continue to attract large numbers of domestic and international tourists in the years to come.

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Since the China-Laos Railway’s cross-border passenger services began on Thursday, Thailand’s northeast province of Nong Khai has celebrated the Songkran festival with neighboring Laos across the Mekong River (13 Apr).

According to Jiranun Sakultangphaisal, an advisor to the Nong Khai tourism association, many tourists will spend the night in the Thai northeast province before traveling to the Laotian capital of Vientiane, which is about 20 kilometers away.

Monnipa Kovitsirikul, Chairperson of the Nong Khai Chamber of Commerce, expressed hope that Chinese tourists visiting Laos would travel further to tour Nong Khai and Thailand’s northeast region.

According to Monnipa, the operation of the China-Laos Railway has benefited many business sectors in Nong Khai by increasing employment and creating new opportunities for the local business community. She has also witnessed new investment from Thailand into Nong Khai, as well as increased efforts by the Thai government to upgrade local infrastructure.

The China-Laos Railway has also provided Thailand with a major transportation link to the vast Chinese market. Due to poor road conditions, goods transport between China, Laos, and Thailand used to take longer. The China-Laos Railway has reduced travel time to around 10 hours, making it easier to transport goods such as fruits that require quick delivery.

The China-Laos Railway, according to Jiranun, is also a road of friendship that brings Thailand, China, and Laos even closer together by increasing connectivity and people-to-people exchanges. She stated that more exchanges would lead to greater understanding, which would lead to increased cooperation.

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According to Court of Justice spokesperson Sorawit Limparangsi, during the “seven dangerous days” around the Songkran festival in 2021, there were 13,103 violations of the Land Traffic Act, with over 93% of those charged with drunk driving. Last year, the number of people charged with violating traffic laws increased by about 28% from the previous year to 17,909. This year, 15,609 people were found guilty of drunk driving, 1,274 for driving without a license, 980 for driving while impaired by narcotics, and 47 for negligent driving.

The figures are alarming, and government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri emphasized that from 2018 to 2022, there were 1,324 deaths and 110,152 injuries during the Songkran Festival, with the majority of accidents involving individuals aged 15-19.

To address the issue and ensure public safety during the festival, the Interior Ministry’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has established a command center, chaired by Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda, to coordinate work between government agencies and provide assistance to the public.

As people prepare to celebrate the festival, it is important to remember that safety should always come first. The Court of Justice urges drivers to be responsible and avoid drinking alcohol before getting behind the wheel to prevent the unnecessary loss of life and injury on the road.

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Those who are planning to travel on particular roadways are being advised by the Department of Health to consider taking one of many alternative routes. People have access to all of these recommendations through the Department of Health’s Facebook page, which gives them all of the information they need to properly plan their trips. In addition, the Department of Health is recommending motorists to drive with extreme caution, adhere to all traffic rules, and make sure they are physically prepared for the extended trip.

The Department of Health is also providing a toll-free hotline at the number 1586, which is staffed around the clock, for any questions or support that may be required while driving on highways or motorways. You can also reach the Highway Police by dialing 1193. This number is provided for your convenience.

During the Songkran long holidays, visitors may relax knowing that their safety is of the utmost concern thanks to the work of the Department of Public Health (DOH), while also enjoying a stress-free journey to their final destination.

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ThaiHealth and partner organizations held a press conference to discuss the “Don’t Drink and Drive; Tipsy Kills” Songkran road accident prevention campaign.

Songkran, according to Phra Mahathawi Phothimethi, abbot of Buddhapanya Temple in Nonthaburi province, marks the Thai new year and includes beautiful traditions. He requested that Buddhists refrain from drinking alcohol during Songkran. The abbot stated that alcohol robs people of their conscience and causes a lack of self-control, and that people under the influence of alcohol are easily capable of committing evils.

This year’s campaign, according to ThaiHealth Assistant CEO Pairoj Saonuam, emphasizes the effects that just one glass of alcohol can have on a driver. These impacts can be fatal.

Dr. Pairoj stated that the “safe water play” areas on popular Songkran streets have been expanded to approximately 60 locations. The number of alcohol-free water splashing areas has increased to around 100 across the country.

According to ThaiHealth’s assistant CEO, driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.05% (50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood) doubles the risk of an accident. A blood alcohol level of 100 milligrams more than doubles the risk of an accident. A blood alcohol concentration of 150 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood or higher increases the risk of an accident by up to 40 times and causes the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

Drinking and driving penalties have been increased. The maximum penalty for the first offense is one year in prison or a fine ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 baht. A repeat offense occurring within two years of the previous offense is punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of 50,000 to 100,000 baht. For repeat offenses, the court will always impose a penalty that includes both a jail term and a fine. Furthermore, the repeat offender’s driver’s license will be suspended for at least one year or revoked.

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Once approved, the Songkran Festival will join Thailand’s current list of three intangible cultural heritages: Khon, a dance drama genre, traditional Thai massage, or Nuad Thai, and Nora, an acrobatic form of dance theater and improvisational singing from southern Thailand. This latest addition to the list will help further promote Thai culture and foster a greater appreciation and understanding of the significance of the Songkran Festival.

An intangible cultural heritage (ICH) refers to a practice, representation, expression, knowledge, or skill, as well as artifacts or cultural property, that is considered to be part of a place’s cultural heritage by UNESCO. These cultural heritages are recognized for their outstanding universal value and are safeguarded through international cooperation and support.

The Songkran Festival, also known as the “Water Festival,” is celebrated annually from April 13 to 15, and is one of the most significant and popular cultural festivals in Thailand. During this time, people splash water on each other to symbolize cleansing and renewal, and engage in other traditional rituals and customs, such as paying respect to elders and visiting temples.

The inclusion of the Songkran Festival in UNESCO’s tentative list of ICHs is a great honor for Thailand and will help to promote the country’s cultural heritage to the world. The recognition of the Songkran Festival as an intangible cultural heritage will also serve as a testament to the enduring legacy of Thai culture and the significance of its traditions in the modern era.

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