Bangkok, Thailand- Thailand’s annual Songkran festival, the celebration marking the traditional Thai New Year, is poised to deliver an economic windfall in 2025, with an estimated 134.63 billion baht (approximately 3.9 billion USD) expected to flow into the Thai economy.
This forecast, announced by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) and echoed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), reflects a 4.5% increase over the previous year’s figures.
Songkran, traditionally observed from April 13 to 15, but extended in some areas like Pattaya, has evolved into a nationwide spectacle that extends well beyond its original three-day duration. The TAT anticipates that the festival will attract 476,000 international tourists and inspire 4.4 million domestic trips between April 12 and 16 alone, contributing 26.5 billion baht during this peak period.
The economic optimism surrounding Songkran 2025 stems from a combination of factors. According to the UTCC’s Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting, consumer spending is expected to surge, with 72.1% of surveyed Thais. The festival’s revenue is projected to break down into key sectors: accommodation (40.6 billion baht), food and beverages (31.9 billion baht), souvenirs and merchandise (25.9 billion baht), transportation (15 billion baht), and entertainment (14.3 billion baht), with additional spending on tourist services and miscellaneous expenses.
The 2025 festivities build on the success of Songkran 2024, which generated 140.335 billion baht over a 21-day period from April 1 to 21, surpassing the Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ initial estimate of 132 billion baht.
This year’s celebrations will feature an array of events, including the Maha Songkran Parade in Bangkok with eight carnival-style floats, water play zones, cultural performances, and concerts by renowned Thai artists such as Bodyslam and Carabao. Beyond Bangkok, regional festivities will span Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Ayutthaya, and other provinces, amplifying the festival’s reach. However, challenges remain: Arrivals from China and Hong Kong are expected to drop by 34% and 28%, respectively, due to safety concerns linked to scam centers, though markets like Malaysia, India, and Europe—boosted by the overlap with Easter—are projected to offset these declines.
With water fights, temple rituals, and nationwide revelry, Songkran 2025 promises to wash away economic woes and usher in a prosperous new year.
