Thai Tourism Authority heavily considering officially moving Songkran to July 4-7 this year

Thursday, 12 March 2020, 9:05

Bangkok-

As province after province continue to cancel official Songkran events and airline flights around the world are cancelled due to concerns of the Covid19 Coronavirus the Thai Government and Thai Tourism Authority is heavily considering officially moving Songkran to July.

This would allow the world famous waterfights that draw millions of tourists to continue and help bring tourists back to Thailand, assuming of course that the virus situation has subsided by that time. It is also expected that the drought situation will be improved by then.

The TAT’s first request for the private sector is a plan to postpone Songkran from April to July 4-7.

The idea got the nod from Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn but still needs approval from the Culture Ministry.

Mr. Yuthasak said the “green” season in July is a more appropriate time for celebrations because the drought will be less severe by then.

“We don’t want to lose the opportunity created by a big festival, as most events have already been cancelled,” he said. “But we have to introduce this idea to event organisers and the private sector in every province first.”

Mr Yuthasak said the TAT should encourage flexibility among stakeholders during the outbreak.

“Even the tomb-sweeping day or Qingming festival in China, during which families pay respect to ancestors, had to be postponed in some areas to allow for virus containment,” he said. “Postponing a festival should be on the table in Thailand too.”