She said the additional numbers of arriving passengers combined with those coming in on flights operated by scheduled carriers would see the total hit the 0.5-million mark. Ms Roengronasa said the projected figure was 30 per cent up on that for 2014.
She continued by saying the reason international tourists were flocking back to Thailand might be a direct result of a more stable political environment and the recent removal of martial law. Songkran Festival is the biggest event on the nation’s annual calendar and is a major draw-card for foreign visitors.
Although the focus of the festivities was traditionally the northern regions of Thailand with Chiang Mai as the epicentre, it is now celebrated all over the country. The main attraction of Songkran for Thais and foreigners nowadays is the opportunity of taking part in pitched water battles.
The Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports has urged people joining in the water-throwing activities this year to follow a number of basic rules. Ministry spokesperson Chanvit Phalajivin says revellers should not use high-pressure water-canons and pistols or dirty river water as ammunition.
Thailand ready to welcome 500,000 for Songkran Festival
News in Asia
Thailand’s national tourist bureau says 500,000 foreign tourists are scheduled to fly in for next week’s annual Songkran Festival. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) boss Chuthaporn Roengronasa told media representatives an extra 300 charter flights would be arriving from the week commencing Saturday 11 April.