BANGKOK, Apr 11 (TNA) – City residents are expected to spend more than 18 billion baht during the Songkran, or traditional Thai New
Year, Festival this year although overall celebrations will not be active like that of every year, according to the KASIKORN Research Center (KRC).
In an analysis report on “Songkran 2005: City Residents Likely to Spend 18 Billion Baht,” the leading think tank projected that the tourism atmosphere
during the Songkran Festival this year would not be cheerful although there are five consecutive long holidays.
Local and foreign tourist markets
continue to be sluggish as a result of many negative factors facing the country since last year.
However, the number of people, who go back home or
visit their relatives in provincial areas during the festival, is expected to continue to be high. So is the number of people who plan to make overseas trips
in that period.
In short, the spending on various activities by city residents during the Songkran Festival this year will be as high as 18 billion
baht.
KRC stated that confidence among local and foreign tourists would be restored unless any untoward or undesirable incidents occurred in that
period, as many were worried.
It would help boost the country’s tourism in the rest of this year, KRC said.
It added that strict security
measures issued by all agencies concerned must be maintained during the festival and all Thai people should have a participating role in keeping vigilance
and reporting anything suspicious to security officers.
(TNA) – E005
Travel Centre
