Thailand's Songkran still draws tourists despite drought
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DESPITE A government campaign to preserve water because of the record drought, Thailand is still a popular destination for foreign visitors during Songkran, the water splashing festival that gushes next week, according to Skyscanner.
Data from the online travel search engine showed a 48-per-cent year-on-year increase in overall searches for Thailand, with cities and islands like Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai and Krabi claiming the spotlight as the most popular places to visit.
Searches for Phuket increased the most at 63 per cent, |followed by Krabi at 55 per cent, Samui at 47 per cent and Bangkok 46 per cent.
Chiang Mai, usually the most popular destination for Songkran, had the lowest year-on-year rise of searches at 32 per cent.
The top five countries whose residents are interested in travelling to Thailand were Singapore, Australia, Russia, the United Kingdom and Germany.
Singapore shows the largest increase in searches at 89 per cent, followed by Australia at 36 per cent and Russia 26 per cent.
Chiang Mai also missed the top place that Thais plan to visit. Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Ubon Ratchathani and Chiang Rai were the top five domestic cities preferred by Thais during this year’s festival.
“It is encouraging for us to learn that Thailand continues to be a popular destination among travellers during Songkran,” Grace Areerat, marketing manager for Skyscanner Thailand, said yesterday.
“The rise in searches year on year is in keeping with the government’s efforts to boost tourism, especially during the annual New Year festival.
“Interestingly, Thais are also keen to explore their own back yard. The rising popularity of budget air travel has made it even more accessible for locals to celebrate the water-splashing Songkran Festival nationwide,” she said.
Today, 16 hotels in Bangkok and seven provinces will offer a four-hour “flash sale” to stimulate tourism during Songkran. Featured will be special deals and steep discounts on accommodation packages, theme-park tickets and 30 other travel-related products and services.
Participating hotels and resorts include the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket and InterContinental Hua Hin. Attractions include Sampran Riverside, Siam Niramit, Siam Park and Oasis Sea World.
The sale will start at 11am at Quartier Park in front of the EmQuartier shopping complex. It is open to all, including expatriates and visitors.
“The special privileges are to stimulate Thais to travel within Thailand during the Thai New Year holiday,” said Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Besides the instant offers from leading travel service providers at the event, there is a double bonus for Thais travelling within the country from April 9-17. Tax receipts for domestic travel spending during this period can be used for a 2016 tax deduction.
