Songkran Festival Drives Tourism Surge in Thailand
The “Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2025”, Thailand’s tourism campaign celebrating the traditional Thai New Year from April 13 to 15, has officially concluded, leaving a significant boost on the country’s tourism sector. The festival was celebrated nationwide, with major events taking place in key cities such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, and Hat Yai.
According to Thailand’s Deputy Government Spokesperson Sasikarn Watthanachan, between April 8 and 14, a total of 666,180 international visitors arrived in Thailand, a 10.73% increase compared to the previous week. The average daily number of visitors during the festival exceeded 95,000. Anticipating the tourism surge, the Thai government implemented tourist-friendly measures such as increasing flights and seating capacity, and waiving tolls on five major expressways during the festival period.
In terms of international visitor origins, Malaysia topped the list with 102,106 arrivals, followed by China (82,274), India (55,158), Russia (40,283), and the United Kingdom (32,119). Short-haul travel saw a 17.61% increase, mainly driven by Chinese and Indian tourists. Additionally, long-haul travel from countries such as Germany and France also saw notable growth.
In Bangkok, the festival attracted around 2.8 million people, with Sanam Luang emerging as the most popular venue. According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), revelers gathered at major Songkran hotspots like Sanam Luang (1.1 million people), Khao San Road (459,737 people) and Silom Road (358,728 people). Bangkok generated the highest revenue in the country with spending estimated at 4.1 billion baht (approximate USD 138.65 million).
Major post-festival celebrations are scheduled to continue in areas like Bang Saen and Pattaya, potentially extending the revenue boost. Nationwide revenue for Songkran currently reached 28.7 billion baht (approximate USD 849.12 million), marking a 17% increase compared to the previous year.
