The Thai government has announced full support for this year’s Songkran Festival, ordering state agencies to prepare grand events for the holiday period from Apr 13-15.
The government plans to go big on Songkran
The government will give full support to this year's Songkran Festival after the event was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic, and expects 20 million people to travel around the country next month.
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri yesterday said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had ordered state agencies to prepare grand events from April 13-15, when the holiday falls this year. This year will be more lively as more tourists are visiting every part of the country once again, and the government expects about 17-20 million people will make journeys home or elsewhere in April, a big increase from the number during the Covid-19 pandemic, said Mr Anucha.
He added the government has launched campaigns to encourage people to enjoy trips and travel during public holidays from now until September under the TAT's "Visit Thailand Year: Amazing New Chapters" scheme as well as through campaigns such as We Travel Together, Wonder Deal and Secret Code 365.
Mr Anucha said the campaigns would boost domestic tourism in April and should also attract more tourist spending during the rest of the year. Meanwhile, deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said she urged both Thai and foreign tourists to install the police mobile app -- Tourist Police I Lert U -- to lodge complaints or call in an emergency.
Developed by the Tourist Police, the application offers a 24-hour service where users can submit photos or lodge complaints to officers.
When users click an icon to seek help, the application automatically uses the phone's GPS signal to locate the caller and send help.
The app is available in English, Chinese, Russian, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Arabic and most Southeast Asian languages.
For more information, please visit this link: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2536744/govt-to-go-big-on-songkran.
