She explained that the stretch of the riverside between Rama IX Bridge and Krung Thon Bridge would be the focus of the events here. Floating craft have already been adorned with lights for the occasion.
The iconic Temple of Dawn (AKA Wat Arun) will be illuminated for the duration of the event and is also the setting for cultural shows depicting the Thai way of life. Ms Wattanavrangkul noted that the main countdown party outside Bangkok’s CentralWorld shopping plaza will take place as usual.
She carried on by saying that locations including Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Khon Kean had scheduled their own countdown extravaganzas. In Chiang Mai, the main venue is outside the Kad Suan Kaew mall on Huay Kaew Road.
Thai service providers are also doing their bit to ensure revellers are provided with a convenient passage into the New Year. Bangkok’s BTS and MRT train operators have both said services will operate until 02:00 on New Year’s morning.
AIS, True and DTAC are the kingdom’s principal mobile telephone service providers and they have all announced they are providing free wireless internet connectivity until 3 January 2016. The Thai Bankers Association says it will not charge customers their usual fees when they make ATM withdrawals in other provinces.
Thailand gears up for New Year countdown parties
News in Asia
Thailand’s tourism ministry is coordinating year end countdown celebrations in all the country’s main tourism hotspots. Tourism-minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul announced several days ago that parties and fireworks would be staged alongside the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.