Bangkok gears up for grandiose govt backed Songkran festival
Bangkok is set for an unprecedented Songkran, the annual water festival. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has plans to incorporate the festivities into the government’s soft power promotion policy, making this year’s festival more grandiose. The announcement came from Chadchart Sittipunt, the governor of Bangkok, yesterday.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had a meeting discussing the city’s readiness for the festival, which is scheduled to take place from April 10 to 18. The famed Khao San Road will serve as the primary site for Songkran in the city, with connections to Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue and Sanam Luang. These locations have been chosen by the TAT to host the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024 in the Thai capital, according to Chadchart.
These venues, along with several other Songkran celebration sites around the country, have been selected to represent the diverse regions of Thailand. The TAT has singled out Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue and Sanam Luang as Bangkok’s official Songkran sites, citing their unique embodiment of Bangkok’s distinct identity.
The Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024, organised by TAT, will unfold nationwide from April 11 to 15. On February 20, the Cabinet green-lit a proposal to allocate 104.9 billion baht from the government’s central budget to fund the TAT’s Songkran festival. The event is expected to draw in over 200,000 tourists, both Thai and foreign, reported Bangkok Post.
The TAT anticipates that this year’s festival will generate around 3.12 billion baht in tourism-related income, potentially placing it among the world’s top 10 festivals.
As the city prepares Khao San Road and nearby areas for the upcoming festival, Chadchart revealed that the BMA is planning to establish a service centre to assist visitors throughout the festival period. The administration also plans to collaborate with the Metropolitan Police Bureau to manage traffic at Songkran celebration sites and ensure public safety.
In addition, security patrols will be increased in areas identified as crime or accident hotspots. Several rapid-response security forces will also be on standby to provide swift action in case of major incidents, Chadchart further explained.
