Thailand, March 24th, 2025 — Chai Arunanondchai, President of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), predicted that the Songkran Festival from April 13th–15th, will be more vibrant than last year.
Chai attributed the expected increase in activity to the government’s “Maha Songkran World Water Festival” campaign, which will extend celebrations throughout April.
Provincial governors and business operators are actively preparing for the festivities, which are expected to boost domestic travel and local tourism. The popular show the White Lotus also featured Songkran, which is expected to also boost the holiday.
Chai noted that while the economy has not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, domestic spending remains stable. Luxury spending, such as on branded goods, has declined, especially among Chinese tourists, but high-end spending among Thais remains strong.
Thai tourists are still traveling abroad, especially to Japan, Hong Kong, and China. Chai suggested that the government should introduce measures to encourage domestic travel, such as expanding the “Half-Half Co-Payment” scheme to increase local tourism spending.
