Governor receives Songkran blessing

PHUKET CITY: Phuket’s top-ranking civil servants this morning took part in a ceremony offering Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit an early Thai New Year’s greeting in the traditional way – by pouring lustral water over his hands.

Some 100 top provincial officials attended the event at the Governor’s Mansion on Narisorn Rd. Among them were Vice-Governors Worapoj Ratthasima, Tri Augkaradacha, Smith Palawatvichai, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampetch and new Phuket Immigration Superintendent Col Chanatpol Yongbunjerd.

The three-day Songkran Festival marking the arrival of the Thai New Year begins on Sunday, by which time many island residents will have already returned to their home provinces to celebrate.

However, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects many out-of-town tourists to come here to celebrate. Suwalai Pinpradub, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Southern Region 4 Office, estimated 50,000 tourists will flock to Phuket, spending 500 million baht while here.