Bad news for Songkran haters. The traditional Thai New Year festival will transform into a month-long global water festival next year. The initiative, aimed at strengthening Thailand's soft power and attracting international tourists, was announced by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the Pheu Thai Party and chairman of the National Soft Power Strategy Committee (NSPSC).
Paetongtarn strives to make Songkran one of the best festivals in the world. “We want people to come to Thailand specifically to attend this event. From next year onwards, Songkran will no longer be the same. Instead of just three days, we will be hosting events throughout the month across the country,” she said. The committee expects the expanded festival to contribute 35 billion baht to the Thai economy.
The NSPSC has proposed a budget of 5,1 billion baht aimed at boosting various industries including festival, culinary, tourism, entertainment, sports, art, design, music and book events.
Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee, vice president of the NSPSC, stressed the importance of the passage of the Soft Power Act and the establishment of the Thailand Creative Content Agency (Thacca), with twelve subcommittees focusing on different industries. Chadatip Chutrakul, CEO of Siam Piwat Co and chairman of the festival events subcommittee, unveiled plans to host more than 2024 events in 10.000, culminating in the Songkran celebrations in April. The events will take place on Rachadamnoen Avenue and other locations in Bangkok's Old Town, and will feature both local and international artists.
Outside of Bangkok, each province will host unique water festival activities in April, aimed at promoting their provincial traditions. These events will provide employment opportunities at the local level and include training in event planning.
The subcommittee also plans to develop a mobile app to promote Thailand's soft power internationally.
Source: Bangkok Post
Hm,
Wasting water for a month while there are water shortages in parts of the country? The plan has already been scrapped...
Good thing, too. I was in Pattaya during Songkran. It's fun for a few days, but coming home with wet clothes for a week was quite annoying. Let alone that this 'tradition' would be kept for a month.
Not to mention a much bigger spike in sick people and ear infections!
“The National Soft Power Development Committee has clarified its idea of staging the Songkran festival for the whole month of April, saying the water-splashing festivities will be held on April 13-15 as usual, following criticism of the plan”
Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/easy/2697986
Best regards,
I have 2 options. Now lock myself up for a month with food supplies and an ample supply of water, because there will certainly be a shortage of that. Could wonderfully shorten the Songkran 'party'.
Or go to Europe for a month and report myself as a refugee from the water...
Well, what should you do with that now? As usual it's all about money!! Now I'm certainly not a hater of this festival, but after 2 days I've had enough. Often a week in the north of Thailand and I don't see the fun in being thrown soaking wet after 3 or more days. The first day is usually the most spontaneous and really fun, then that feeling diminishes.
Once again, I think it's a fun festival, but forcibly organizing all kinds of parties for a month is going a bit too far for me. It has nothing to do with spontaneity and everything to do with generating money.
It is a proposal, all Thais are against it, according to my wife, it will probably not go ahead. Each province has its own rules. Phuket always only had 1 day.
uh what? extra water waste for one month? It's idiocy (I think)
If you want to attract international tourists, you will also have to simplify the visa application. This is an obstacle for many to come to Thailand.
That also happened for Chinese and Indians. You still think that Western tourists are important to Thailand, but that is not the case.
Visa application? The entire Western world can stay for a month without a visa and there are special rules for 'friendly' countries such as the Russian Federation, China and India. What do you mean, an obstacle?
Fortunately, no throwing water for a month. It would make the wallets of Thais, which already don't have much in them, even emptier and their heads even fuller from illegally produced alcohol...
The water supply might also be restored to normal if this idiotic waste is stopped; It seems that there are water shortages has not yet entered the minds of the Shinawatras...
I hate to think about this “party” being held for a whole month. In view of other years with a shortage of water, throwing of water will have to be limited. And yet it is idiotic to celebrate for a whole month. Surely the most hardened tourist wouldn't want that.
What people imagine in terms of festivities has little to do with Songkran. Events and parties to attract tourists. How can you imagine it?
When I want to visit another country, I do it because of normal, everyday life and not because of festivities. But that's me. It is my fault. I don't like almost any party. In my opinion it is always exaggerated. In the past, when people had little, a party was nice to have something extra. But if you already have everything, how much better does it have to get? How much more do you have to shove down your throat?
I haven't celebrated Christmas for years and also a birthday, only in a limited circle. Why? I don't want more, at most less.
Anyway, I'm only talking about myself again. Of course I can't speak for the rest of the population. I can't say what the Thais think about it or what other Farangs like about it.
To me it's pure madness just to think of something like that! If people think it attracts tourists, I would carefully expand it from three days to four days or even five, but make it thirty days... I have to gasp just thinking about it.
No, Sjaak, it's not your fault at all. I have the same attitude, let me enjoy life my way.
All those festivities are just for show. As long as money flows in, all is well. Even worse, I note that the Thai government is taking more and more initiatives to attract tourists en masse.
If this continues, there will be little left of beautiful Thailand in the foreseeable future. Everywhere you go you are flooded with arrogant foreigners. Coming here to stir things up, drinking, making noise, drumming everywhere to take selfies... sometimes it disgusts me.
My Thai wife likes to travel. I actually don't. I'm always happy to come back home. But for the sake of good relations, you go along. But all that fuss is not for me.
A few years ago I had a bowl of ice water poured over me, with ice cubes still floating in it. I was immediately exhausted and then ill for a week. I liked songkran at first, but since then I didn't go out during songkran during the day. I am 76 years old and probably more susceptible to diseases and that may also play a role.
Fortunately, that retarded plan was scrapped, the reason being given was too little water.
In addition, the real intention of SongKran, to visit the parents and grandparents and honor them and ask for forgiveness if mistakes have been made, is ignored.
Some people don't know what to do to raise money.
It would be better for them to make it a bit easier for the expat who brings in a lot of money, instead of making it very difficult for the expat and almost bullying them away.
Gr. Arno
Songkran, the annual debate can start again.
My wife and I, Belgians, like to join us for about three days. Then we'll stop.
Next year I will be 72 on April 13, of course. Songkran day.
So many plans have already been made in Thailand that have never come to fruition.
Don't let it bother you.
I would like to end by wishing everyone a “Happy Songkran”.
Went to Phuket last year during Sonkran. After 2 days the fun was over for the Thais and almost nothing happened anymore.