BANGKOK – The Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024, which took place on Ratchadamnoen Avenue and Sanam Luang in Bangkok from April 11 to 15, 2024, exceeded the target number of participants by four times, according to Sudawan Wangsuphakitkoson on April 16.
She gave the details that the event attracted 784,883 visitors, including 693,288 Thai nationals and 91,595 international visitors. The event’s occupancy rate was 3.94 percent, generating economic activity of over 2.88 billion baht and increasing government tax revenue by 742 million baht.
Ms. Thapanee Kiittipaiboon, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), also provided an overview of this event that 72.18 percent Thai visitors were from Bangkok, 22.28 percent from the surrounding provinces, and 5.54 percent from other provinces and the largest group of international visitors were Europeans, followed by Asians.
The main sources of information for the event were online media (62.88 percent), word of mouth (12.75 percent) and television (10.72 percent).
Surveys were also conducted on the satisfaction of tourists and suppliers. Thai tourist satisfaction was rated 4.2622 (highest level), with light, sound and atmosphere being the most satisfied. International tourist satisfaction was rated at 4.2485 (highest level), with facilities being the most satisfied.
Shopkeeper satisfaction was rated 4.4557 (highest level) for stores within the event and 4.5357 (highest level) for stores outside the event. In addition, satisfaction with the parade was rated 4.2666 (highest level).
Sales at shops within the event totaled 9.33 million baht, with the soft power zone generating 1.9 million baht, the OTOP zone generating 7.29 million baht, food trucks generating 1.29 million baht, restaurants generating 640,476 baht, and the retro activity zone generating 101,160 baht.
It was estimated that over 500 small-scale vendors outside the event generated additional revenue, and that over 2,000 jobs were created and income was increased for those in the service industry.
It was also found that 57.34 percent of participants were aware of the UNESCO-registered Songkran Festival in Thailand as an intangible cultural heritage and highly desired a repeat of the event.
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, from January 1 to April 14, 2024, a total of 10,723,953 international tourists visited Thailand, generating tourism revenue of approximately 518 billion baht.
The top five countries of origin for international tourists were: China (2,031,552 people), Malaysia (1,391,057 people), Russia (695,624 people), South Korea (619,186 people), and India (546,935 people).
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