THAILAND'S RECENT SONGKRAN FESTIVAL WAS A HUGE SUCCESS, GENERATING OVER RM 400 MILLION IN REVENUE OVER 2 WEEKS

KEE@FSWMAG.COM

Thailand's Songkran 2014 a few weeks ago was a huge success, generating over RM 400 million  The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has annouced that its 2014 Songkran Splendours was a great success, generatng approximately 4 billion Baht in tourism revenue from a total of 1,462,000 travellers, comprising 1,347,860 Thai travellers and 114,140 foreign tourists. TAT’s 2014 Songkran Splendours took place during 5-21 April in 13 locations: Bangkok; Chiang Mai; Sukhothai; Khon Kaen; Nakhon Phanom; Nong Khai; Suphan Buri; Ayutthaya; Chon Buri, Samui Prakan, the province in which Phra Phradaeng is located; Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla, the province in which Hat Yai is located; and Phuket. The number of travellers enjoying TAT’s 2014 Songkran Splendours and the estimated revenue generated in each of the 13 locations are as follows: Location Duration No. of tourists Estimated revenue from tourists’ spending(million baht) Thais Foreigners Total Bangkok 12-15 April 265,720 26,280 292,000 536.74 Chiang Mai 12-15 April 170,000 26,500 196,500 655.91 Sukhothai 13-15 April 42,000 2,250 44,250 143.65 Khon Kaen 5-15 April 220,000 2,100 222,100 751.44 Nakhon Phanom 11-15 April 10,500 200 10,700 23.57 Nong Khai 12-16 April 150,000 1,100 151,100 439.12 Suphan Buri 12-14 April 128,000 300 128,300 362.17 Ayutthaya 13-15 April 18,200 1,800 20,000 64.12 Chon Buri 11-21 April 200,000 10,500 210,500 469.05 Samut Prakan 18-20 April 31,500 450 31,950 83.01 Nakhon Si Thammarat 12-14 April 15,560 40 77,000 274.64 Songkhal (Hat Yai) 11-13 April 52,360 24,640 77,000 274.64 Phuket 13-15 April 44,020 17,980 62,000 252.20 Total 1,347,860 114,140 1,462,000 4.105.72 Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik, Governor of TAT said, “This year, the kingdom welcomed tourists who came to join the Thai people in one of our most joyous annual celebrations. Up and down the country, fun and family-friendly activities were held and everyone got to experience the different aspects of this memorable festival.” Songkran is Thailand’s main holiday when families are reunited and people make merit at the temples. The traditions stretch back hundreds of years and how the New Year is celebrated differs from province to province. For international travellers, the most memorable moments come from the massive water-fights that help beat the heat of the Thai summer. TAT anticipates that the momentum in tourist arrival numbers will continue for the remainder of April, as well as for the remainder of the year.   I