By Arsi Mughal  CTN News CHIANG RAI TIMES Fri, March 31, 2023

(CTN News) – This year’s Songkran festival will be celebrated with several activities held in cities across Thailand by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and its partners.

Between April 13 and 16, 2023, TAT says they will host the “Water Festival 2023” in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, and Phuket.

With this celebration, organizers hope to increase awareness of Thailand’s Songkran festival and garner support for its nomination to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural assets.

The Chao Phraya River will host the festivities in several Bangkok venues. The celebration in Bangkok will feature a parade of Buddha images along the river, other entertainment options and traditional marketplaces.

Chiang Mai, located in the north of Thailand, will host a celebration where local Lanna artisans will set up booths to sell their wares to festivalgoers.

This gathering will occur at the Ancient Mansion Chiang Mai on Charoen Pratet Road. Visitors to Lamphun can watch a procession of Buddha images and enjoy musical acts at Phra That Hari Phun Chai.

Wat Sa Kaeo and Ban Chiang in Udon Thani, in the region’s northeast, will host the event displaying local customs for celebrating Songkran. Celebrations for the Thai New Year will also be held at Khon Kaen’s Wat Chaisi, making it a regional activity center.

Meanwhile, in Phuket, celebrations will occur at Wat Maikhao on the 13th and Phuket Old Town on the 15th and 16th.

Together with the Ministry of Culture, the Royal Thai Navy, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Thai Beverage Public Co Ltd (ThaiBev), commercial and public networks, and local communities, TAT will organize the “Water Festival 2023.”

Officials have stated their enthusiasm for this year’s Songkran Festival and have mandated that all government agencies organize large-scale activities over the three-day weekend of April 13-15.

Government Spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri said that between 17 and 20 million tourists are expected to visit the country in the coming month.

Under the TAT’s “Visit Thailand Year: Amazing New Chapters” scheme, as well as We Travel Together, Wonder Deal, and Secret Code 365, the government has launched campaigns to encourage people to travel during public holidays from now until September.

These initiatives aim to increase domestic tourism in April, increasing annual tourist spending.

I Lert U App Urged for Tourist Safety During Songkran Festival

Deputy Government Spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek recommended the I Lert U app for Thai and foreign tourists to download before the festival to ensure safety.

The app, created by the Tourist Police, offers a constant hotline where users can report problems or request assistance. It taps into the phone’s built-in GPS receiver to pinpoint the user’s location and dispatch help.

Most Southeast Asian languages, as well as Thai, English, Chinese, Russian, Japanese, Korean, French, German, and Arabic, are supported by the I Lert U app.

SOURCE: CHIANG RAI TIMES, THAILAND Fri, March 31, 2023

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