8-4-2024 (BANGKOK) With the Songkran festivities approaching, Phra Nakhon district in Bangkok is gearing up with over 1,600 officials and volunteers stationed to ensure safety, especially in tourist hubs like Khao San and Silom roads.
Kosol Singhanat, the Director of Phra Nakhon District, foresees a significant tourist influx in three primary areas during the holiday: Khao San Road, Sanam Luang, and Phra Athit Road.
Among the government-hosted events is the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024 at Sanam Luang, while Wisut Kasat’s Thephi Songkran beauty pageant will grace Santi Chai Prakan Park on Phra Athit Road.
Singhanat affirmed that the district office will deploy a minimum of 1,600 personnel and volunteers, including firefighters and nurses, to oversee the key Songkran venues. To enhance security, CCTV cameras with artificial intelligence and emergency booths will be installed along Khao San Road from April 11 onwards, in preparation for the festivities starting on April 12.
Despite partial road closures during the festival, the provision of shuttle buses and taxis will facilitate uninterrupted movement, Singhanat assured.
Meanwhile, Sanga Ruangwattanakul, head of the Khao San Business Association, disclosed plans for this year’s Songkran event, featuring five floating Buddha statues carrying barrels of holy water from five prominent city temples.
Ruangwattanakul announced that Khao San Road will be vehicle-free from April 13 to 15, allowing revellers to enjoy the festivities until 9 pm, after which the road will reopen for businesses.
In a separate announcement, Bang Rak District Director Tharaporn Amnuaysan declared the closure of Silom Road, from Sala Daeng to the Silom-Narathiwat intersection, from midday to midnight on April 13 and 14, for an event co-organised by local authorities and the Culture Ministry.
The government-organised Songkran event will kick off on April 11 in Bangkok and major cities like Samut Prakan, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Khon Kaen, as per Culture Minister Sermsak Pongpanich.
The Tourism and Sports Ministry projects that the extended Songkran holiday will contribute around US$1.6 billion in tourism-related revenue for the country.
