This year’s Songkran is set to be the most lively since Thailand began living with the COVID-19 pandemic three years ago, with total spending among Thai and foreign revellers estimated to be about 125 billion baht, according to the Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting (CEBF) of the Thai Chamber of Commerce University (TCCU).
TCCU rector, Associate Professor Thanawat Pholvichai, said today (Wednesday) that it is anticipated that each Songkran reveller will spend an average of 7,091 baht on tourism during the festival, reflecting an economic recovery buoyed by tourism expansion and increased visitor arrivals.
Based on an opinion survey, conducted by the CEBF, he said that most of the respondents plan to travel during the festival for recreation and to pay respect to their elders, despite PM2.5 pollution plaguing some northern provinces and concerns over COVID-19, which is still a consideration, although it has substantially eased.
Most respondents say they plan to spend time in seaside provinces, with the most popular destinations being Chon Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi and Rayong.
In Bangkok, Songkran celebrations will be held at numerous venues after three years of absence. They include Khao Sarn Road, Huai Khwang district, a favourite hangout for many Chinese tourists, among others.
A hotelier in Huai Khwang said that many hotels in the district are over 80% booked by Chinese tourists during the period, coming to celebrate the festive water-splashing event.
Although Songkran is about a week away, he said hotel staff in some hotels in the area have been instructed to wear colourful shirts, to engender a festive atmosphere, while the hotels are decorated with rows of flags.
