Speaking on Friday, Warangkana Phrommee said Phuket would not be marking the advent of the Lunar Year on Saturday and in line with the rest of Thailand’s Chinatowns. She said events had been rescheduled to take place between this Thursday and Saturday.
The Phuket Old Town Festival is an age-old rite in which ethnic Chinese keep the gods happy with various merit-making ceremonies. Ms Phrommee noted that all Chinese New Year events would be staged on Thalang Road and Phang Nga in the Old Town.
Due to the passing late last year of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a parade in his honour is first on the agenda and will set off at 17:30 on Thursday. The three-day schedule of events includes dragon dances, and Chinese musical and drumming performances.
The Airports of Thailand authority warned that it was expecting to handle four million passengers over the Lunar New Year period. 12GO ASIA says this huge amount of travellers is stretching transportation infrastructure to capacity and people should reserve their tickets as far in advance as they can.
Phuket delays Chinese New Year events until Thursday
News in Asia
Provincial authorities on Phuket say celebrations and events to celebrate the start of the Chinese New Year will begin this Thursday. A public relations officer on the southern Thai island explained that the Year of the Rooster was being put back as it was so close to the dates for Phuket Old Town Festival.