Extended Songkran Expected to Spur Tourism Boom

PRESS RELEASE:

The 2024 Songkran festival, celebrated across Thailand for an extended period of 21 days this year, is anticipated to bring in a substantial 52.5 billion baht in domestic tourism revenue, with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) highlighting provinces in the East as the top earners.

TAT said the two-week-long celebration, from April 1-21, is set to boost tourism income in the wake of stagnant domestic consumption, significantly increasing from the 13 billion baht garnered during the traditional five-day celebration in 2023. Occupancy rates across the nation are expected to reach 78%, buoyed by strong bookings in seaside locales in both the East and South.

TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool reported that the festival could prompt as many as 15 million local trips, a substantial rise from the previous year’s 3.8 million during the same period. The Northeast is projected to see the most local visitors, followed closely by the Central region and the East. Nonetheless, the Eastern provinces are forecast to rake in the most revenue, followed by Bangkok and then the North, whereas the Southern provinces, usually favored by international tourists, are expected to earn 7.7 billion baht from local tourism.

This year, TAT is spotlighting six destinations for Songkran celebrations, including Bangkok and Chiang Mai. The northern city is expected to lead the group in drawing the majority of local tourists despite its current battle with air pollution.

The preceding is a press release from the Thai Government PR Department.

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Goongnang Suksawat
Goong Nang is a News Translator who has worked professionally for multiple news organizations in Thailand for many years and has worked with The Pattaya News for five years. Specializes primarily in local news for Phuket, Pattaya, and also some national news, with emphasis on translation between Thai to English and working as an intermediary between reporters and English-speaking writers. Originally from Nakhon Si Thammarat, but lives in Phuket and Krabi except when commuting between the three.