Bangkok (VNA) - More people are expected to travel during the long Songkranholiday this year than last year but they will be more cautious in theirspending, due to the higher cost of living and indebtedness, according to asurvey conducted by the Economic and Business Forecast Centre of the Universityof the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).
Thecentre gauged the opinions of 1,280 people in various occupations from March 25 to30.
Up to 66%of the respondents said they intend to celebrate the Songkran festival by meritmaking, 42% by paying respects to senior citizens or relatives, 41.6% bysplashing water at one another and 39.2% at parties.
Morethan a half of the respondents said they will travel, but mostly within theirrespective provinces, 26% said they will stay home, 10.6% said they will travelto other provinces.
Themost popular domestic tourist destinations are Chon Buri, Ayutthaya, Rayong,Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phuket, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammaratand Bangkok. Average domestic travel spending per head is estimated at 6,425THB (nearly 175 USD), while average foreign travel spending is estimated at40,129 THB per head.
ThanawatPholvichai, advisor to the forecast centre and rector of the university, saidthat spending by foreign tourists and locals during the festival period thismonth is estimated at between 140 billion and 200 billion THB.
Songkranthis year is likely to be livelier and festive events are expected to generateincreased spending, he said, adding that in April alone, about 3.2 millionforeign tourists are expected to visit Thailand.
Heestimated that the Songkran festival will stimulate economic growth by 2.01% to2.50%.
The festival is to be held throughout the country over 21days, but especially for five days from April 12-16, to mark it being recognisedas an Intangible Cultural Heritage by the United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)./.
