THAILAND: Songkran 2017 Holiday Spending Exceeds $1 billion

Songkran is the Thai New Year's festival. The Thai New Year's Day is 13 April every year. The Songkran 2017 holiday period was from 11-17 April and Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports said the total economic impact of spending during the period was 45.428 billion Baht (US$1.3 billion*), representing a 14.40 per cent increase over the same period last year.

During the Songkran 2017 holiday period, Thailand attracted 695,894 international tourists and generated about 36.941 billion Baht (US$1 billion), up 10.9 per cent and 16.40 per cent, respectively. Meanwhile, domestic tourism resulted in 3.03 million trips and 8.487 billion Baht (US$242 million) revenue up 3.36 per cent and 6.45 per cent, respectively.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) organized and supported celebrations of Songkran 2017 in 14 destinations nationwide: Bangkok, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Ayutthaya, Songkhla (Hat Yai), Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phuket, Nong Khai, Samut Prakarn, Suphanburi, Nakhon Phanom, Lampang, and Sukhothai.

Mrs. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports said, “With 41 per cent of domestic trips going into 14 destinations where Songkran 2017 celebrations were organized by the Ministry in collaboration with the TAT, that means Thais spent on accommodation, food and transport, thus supported local businesses. This makes us proud for being able to entice Thais to travel domestically.”

Based on the Ministry’s preliminary data, of the 3.03 million domestic trips during 11-17 April, 2017, a total of 1.25 million trips took place in the 14 destinations, a growth of 5.61 per cent when compared to the same period in 2016. The total economic impact totaled 5.15 billion Baht (+7.86 per cent), or 61 per cent of total domestic tourism revenue generated during the Thai New Year 2017.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor said, “I was delighted to see many international tourists joining the Thai people in celebrating Songkran 2017 in the unique Thai ways. The Thai New Year is a time when family comes first, respect is paid to seniors, and people visit the temples to take part in traditional ceremonies. It’s all these beautiful aspects that make Thai culture unique and charming, and make Thailand one of the world’s most unique tourist destinations.”

*Currency converter: 35 Baht / US$1

THAILAND: British Tourist FamilyAttacked In Hua Hin

A British couple and their son who were attacked during a family holiday in Thailand say they will never return to the country.

Shocking footage has emerged of what is reported to be a British family being attacked in Thailand, apparently because they were western tourists.

The couple and their adult son were leaving a bar in the Hua Hin province in the early hours of April 13 after celebrating Thai New Year, News.com.au reports, when they were attacked by a gang of young men.

“At one point the mother, believed to be in her 60s or 70s, tried to sit back up and was kicked in the jaw causing her to fall unconscious.

British media is reporting that one eyewitness who intervened had claimed in an online forum that the gang deliberately targeted Western tourists.

Police have arrested three people in connection with the attack, local Police Chief Chayakorn Siradecho said.

Thai police are hunting the last suspect seen assaulting the family and leaving them apparently unconscious on the street.

“We are now looking for the last suspect and we have a warrant out for his arrest” on assault charges, he said.

The condition of the three victims is unknown.

CCTV footage of the incident has gone viral online.

Thailand’s reputation as a tourist haven has suffered a setback over the past several years, due to incidents including the high-profile murders of two British backpackers on the resort of Koh Tao in 2014 and a bombing at a popular Bangkok tourist site in August that killed 20 people.