The Tourism Authority of Thailand is expecting more than 2.3 million local and foreign tourists will join the various Songkran celebrations this year. They say that should generate 20 billion baht+ in revenue for tourism and tourism-related services.

TAT’s Governor Yuthasak Supasorn says 300,000 international arrivals are expected to celebrate the five day festival starting April 12, along with two million locals who will travel to celebrate Songkran this year. Songkran falling on a weekend this year will also bolster local tourism numbers.

The number of Songkran-specific visitors is up this year, partly because of the growing popularity of the festival internationally and the government extending the holiday to five days this year, now starting on April 12 (although ‘Songkran, the Thai New Year, is actually on April 13).

Songkran festival extended HERE.

He admits that the bad publicity about the poor air quality in the northern regions is a problem, especially around Chiang Mai which has become a big international visitor favorite over recent yers.

Chiang Mai is one of nine provinces in the North struggling with smoke haze, mostly because of open-air burning of farm waste and rubbish, and localised bush fires. The heavy smog has caused temporary suspension of flights between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son although flights into Chiang Mai have been unaffected so far.

A German man has died after a motorbike crash in Thalang.

The Thalang Police were notified of the incident last night on Srisoonthorn Road in Baan Manik, Thalang.

The German man, 53 year old Carsten Elfried Koch, was the driver of a motorbike and sustained critical injuries as a result of the crash. He died at the scene.

Police believe that Mr Koch was heading back to his home in Cherng Talay at high speed. He lost control at a curve on the wet road.

His body was taken to the Thalang Hospital for an autopsy. Officials have informed the German Embassy in Thailand.

Police didn’t report if the man was wearing a bike helmet or not.

Phuket officials are searching for a ‘loris tout’ who was offering photographs with a slow loris at a Kata beach. (Some video of a slow loris below)

‘Angelina Bratukhina’ posted a video with a message read “Where are the police??!! It’s right now at Kata Noi beach.”

The man was offering photos with the slow loris for 200 -300 baht each time (a sign of local inflation, it used to be 100 baht).

The slow loris is a protected animal. Anyone who captures a slow loris can be fined up to 40,000 baht or imprisoned up to four years, or both.

The head of Khao Phra Thaeo non-hunting area in Thalang, Piyawat Sukhon says police are aware of the situation and are actively trying to track the tout down.

“We have searched for the man but not found him on the beach. He might circulate around Phuket’s beaches. Anyone who sees this kind of incident can call 191 or my number 089 873 7749.”