The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on April 19 estimated that Songkran celebrations have seen about 18.5 billion THB (537 million USD) in spending by revellers across the country.
As normal life has returned post COVID-19 outbreak, Thailand’s Bangkok is ready to celebrate a bright and colourful Songkran festival which runs from April 13 to 17 this year.
Thai anti-narcotics police have seized large quantities of drugs and arrested 15 suspects in operations in northern and northeastern provinces between March 28 and April 4.
Thai people are likely to spend more in the upcoming Songkran festival, with the Airports of Thailand (AOT) expecting a surge in the number of passengers on the occasion.
The Thai government will fully support this year's Songkran Festival, which takes place from April 13-15, with 17 – 20 million people expected to travel around the country next month.
Massive Songkran festival will be held across Thailand in April to further stimulate the resurgent tourism industry, Thai government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri said on March 26.
There were 1,917 traffic accidents in Thailand, killing 278 people and injuring1,869 others, during the seven days of the government's road safety campaign for the Songkran festival from April 11 to 17, Nirat Pongsitthithaworn, the country’s deputy interior permanent secretary, said on April 18.
Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (CDC) has urged more than 2 million elderly people to get COVID-19 shots before the Songkran festival as infections may soar during the festive period.
COVID-19 daily caseloads in Thailand may top 100,000 by the Songkran festival in the middle of March in the worst-case scenario, according to the country’s Department of Disease Control (DDC).
A total of 277 people were killed and 2,357 injured in more than 2,300 road accidents during the Songkran holiday this year, according to official data.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul has confirmed that Thailand is in talks for travel bubbles with several countries.
Malaysia is to issue a smart vaccination certificate to people in the country who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on April 10 called on people to stay at home during the traditional Songkran festival to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The acute respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) may subside in the second half of 2020 or earlier, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakan said on February 23, expecting that the country’s tourism would recover after its Songkran New Year festival.
Traffic accidents took the lives of at least 297 people and injured over 2,800 others in Thailand from April 11-15 during the traditional New Year festival, Songkran.
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has called for national unity in a Songkran (Thai New Year) message, saying that it is important to promote solidarity to maintain peace and steer the country toward democracy.
Tourist destinations in Thailand began their celebrations of the traditional New Year festival Songkran on April 11, two days ahead of the official date.
The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) forecast Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 3.5 percent in 2019 if the new government takes office by September.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has forecast that the number of tourists during this year’s Songkran festival from April 12-16 will drop by 10 percent partly due to the northern haze problems.