Laiad Bungsrithong noted that some hotels and resorts say they will be full for the duration of the festival between 12 and 16 April. He explained that the advance reservations were predominantly from China, but there were also significant numbers from European nations.
Songkran marks the old New Year in Thailand. Although the country uses the same Gregorian calendar as western nations, Songran is still its biggest annual cultural celebration.
The three-day water fight staged around Chiang Mai’s moat is the most famous of the activities associated with Songkran. Other activities which mark the festival in Chiang Mai are the pouring of water on statues at Buddhist temples as well as building sand pagodas in the grounds of the temples.
12GO ASIA is a leading provider of tickets for travel in Thailand and Southeast Asia. Our reservations staff say seats for trains, buses and aeroplanes to the North as well as Koh Samui, Phuket and Krabi are selling fast and people planning on travelling over the holiday should make reservations as soon as possible.
Thai hoteliers report surge in Chiang Mai Songkran reservations
News in Asia
The northern branch of Thailand’s hoteliers’ organisation has reported a surge in reservations ahead of next week’s Songkran Festival. The head of the Thai Hotels Association in the city says hotels have reported bookings which on average will give them 80 per cent occupancy rates.