The Songkran Festival in Thailand has been a resounding success, surpassing initial revenue forecasts and drawing a record number of international tourists. Held from April 1-21, the festival generated a total of 140.335 billion baht in revenue, exceeding the Tourism Ministry’s initial projection of 132 billion baht.
International visitors played a significant role in this economic boost, contributing 90.208 billion baht in spending. The festival attracted 1,926,443 foreign tourists, an impressive 37.54% increase over the previous year. This surge was attributed to relaxed visa policies, the elimination of TM.6 forms, and extensive government-hosted events.
China emerged as the leading source of international tourists, with Chinese visitors increasing by an impressive 89.16% compared to last year. Other major contributors included Malaysia, India, Russia, South Korea, Laos, the UK, Taiwan, the USA, and Indonesia.
Domestic tourism also played a vital role in the festival’s success, with 13,897,988 local journeys contributing 50.127 billion baht in revenue. During the festival’s peak period from April 12-16, international and Thai visitors combined to generate a daily revenue of 38.034 billion baht.
The breakdown of the festival’s revenue reveals significant expenditures in various sectors. Lodging accounted for 42.069 billion baht, followed by dining and beverages (33.069 billion), souvenirs and goods (26.839 billion), travel (15.505 billion), recreational activities (14.758 million), tourist services (5.865 million), and other expenses (2.230 million).
