Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand has announced that it is ready to welcome incoming tourists during the Songkran festival from April 11 to 17, 2023.
It is estimated that about one million tourists will arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport, an average of 143,000 tourists per day.
Bangkok is getting ready
The airport will set up a temporary outbound checkpoint at the end of row W in the departure lounge, 4th floor. The airport will also deploy more staff at checkpoints to provide maximum efficiency for tourists.
The Ministry of Transport also announced that car parking in the Suvarnabhumi International Airport Area C parking lot will be free during the Songkran long holiday from April 12 to 18 with shuttle services carrying passengers to the terminal. major.
Songkran: a contribution to Thailand’s GDP
The Center for Economic and Business Forecasting at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce predicts that total spending during Songkran will reach 125.2 billion baht, a 17.3% increase from the record 106.7 billion baht. baht last year. This will help increase GDP by about 0.5 to 0.7%.
The first three months bode well for an excellent year
The Tourism Authority of Thailand announced that the number of tourists for the first 3 months of 2023 (January 1 – March 31) stood at 6,465,737, an increase of 1,199% over the same period. last year, bringing tourism spending to THB 256.2 billion.
Songkran is a Buddhist festival
Songkran is the Thai name for the Buddhist New Year celebration. The word is derived from a Sanskrit term meaning “movement (of the sun in the zodiac)”. Specific to Theravada Buddhism and based on the lunar calendar, it is also celebrated in Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka and among the Dai of Yunnan.
Traditionally, Thais return to their families on this occasion and show respect for their elders by pouring a little scented water on their hands; one acquires merits by offering food to the bonzes; we water the statues of the Buddha
In parallel… big gay party in Bangkok
The guys from GCircuit are back in force for four days of celebration in Songkran. Considered one of the world’s hottest events on the gay circuit, the festival celebrates its 17th anniversary this year – and the return from a long, dry hiatus – under the sci-fi theme of the 13th Big Bang. to April 16.
All four nightly events will take place at the Bangkok Convention Center in Centralworld. April 13 is themed Neon Metropolis, April 14 Superheroes vs Supervillains, April 15 is Space Opera, and April 16 is 50 Shades of Gay.
The pool parties, dubbed The Big Sun Pool for bears and The Sun Pool for regular boys, will take place at the Royal Orchid Sheraton on April 15 and 16 respectively from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Buddhism, tourists, and tolerance… Sacred Thailand which has no equal in terms of hospitality!
