Thailand's Songkran New Year festival (Source: livinglocal)Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai Government is considering the extensionof the traditional Songkran New Year Festival in April to stimulate the economywhich is facing numerous difficulties.
According to agovernment source, there is a proposal to extend the Songkran holiday by twodays to nine days from April 13-19.
Relevant agencies areexpected to submit the proposal at a meeting discussing economic stimulusmeasures.
Creating a shoppingatmosphere is hoped to help the economy which faces many economic risk factorssuch as the outbreak of the new coronavirus, drought, delay in implementing thebudget, and the Korat mass shooting in Nakhon Ratchasima, which have had a hugeimpact on businesses and the tourism industry.
On February 12, ThaiDeputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak also mentioned the extended Songkranfestival idea. Somkid said that he was prepared to propose to the Cabinet theextension of the long holiday since people will have to return to theirhometowns and travel, thus boosting tourism and economic development.
In this regard, he hascoordinated with Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, to consider addingspecial holidays in the first and second quarters to encourage Thai people totravel domestically during the first half of the year to mitigate the impact ofthe epidemic.
According to theKasikorn Research Centre, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may causeeconomic losses of 500-700 million USD, or 0.09-0.13 percent of Thailand’sannual GDP if the disease lasts 3-6 months.
The tourism ministryexpects a missing of 5 percent of tourist arrivals this year which will resultin a loss of 250 billion THB (over 8 billion USD), or 1.5 percent of GDP./.
VNA
