Tourism/Songkran Festival

Chatrudee Theparat

Chiang Mai is projected to become the most popular destination among Thais to celebrate Songkran Festival this year, with the highest occupancy rate of 82%.

Maha Songkran World Water Festival is very special this year, with a longer celebration of 21 days across Thailand. The Songkran festival starts in Chiang Mai from April 1-15, before wrapping up with the "Wan Lai" festival in Chon Buri from April 19-21, which is the last celebration of the annual water-splashing festival.

Chiang Mai is projected to become the most popular province among Thais with a projected occupancy rate of 82% with 440,330 trips of local visitors and 4.3 billion baht in tourism revenue earning, followed by Bangkok with 74% with 1.38 million trips and 9.9 billion baht, and Songkhla with 71% with 128,410 trips and 950 million baht.

Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol said the Maha Songkran World Water Festival between April 1 and 21 is expected to generate 52.50 billion baht in total revenue based on 15.03 million domestic trips.

She said the government considers Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024 as a special occasion because Songkran, traditional Thai New Year festival, has been included the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reported as of March 29, an occupancy rate nationwide was projected at 78% during the festival, similarly to the eastern and southern region. In separate region, central and western regions were expected to get 77%, followed by 75%, 74%, 73% of northeast region, Bangkok, and northern region respectively.

The northeast region is expected to welcome the highest number of tourists with 3.37 million trips, followed by 3.43 million trips of the central and western regions, 2.78 million trips of eastern region, 2.29 million of northern region, 1.39 million trips of southern region, and 1.38 million of Bangkok.

The eastern region is projected to generate the highest revenue of 10.60 billion baht, followed by 9.90 billion baht of Bangkok, 9.70 billion baht of the northern region, 7.71 billion baht of southern region, 7.52 billion baht of southern region, and seven billion baht of central and western regions.

The government launches Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024 to showcase water splashing activities and persuade more foreign tourists to visit the country.

Bangkok, which hosts the festival at Sanam Luang and Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue during April 11-15, is expected to earn 9.9 billion baht from 1.38 million domestic trips. She said other provinces should also benefit from celebrations nationwide that will be extended to 21 days in April.

The government allocated 130 million baht for three ministries to help jointly promote the state celebration, including the Tourism and Sports, Interior and Culture ministries, which will host Songkran celebrations in all provinces. The festival will feature 20 special parades, depicting Thai culture across regions and parades showcasing traditional Thai beauty.