ID :
116657
Wed, 04/14/2010 - 20:46
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http://m.oananews.org//node/116657
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Local and foreign holidaymakers flock to splash water on Khao San Road
BANGKOK, April 14 (TNA) -- Thais and foreigners alike have celebrated the Thai New Year's Songkran festival on Khao San Road, while Songkran revellers enjoyed splashing water in all regions with rising hotel occupancy in many provinces.
Khao San Road is Bangkok's major venue for foreign tourists participating in the water splashing festival. Revellers are allowed to stay only until 10pm Wednesday and many activities were cancelled earlier after the bloody clashes between the government's security forces and anti-government protesters at Khok Wua intersection near Khao San road on Saturday.
Amid the capital's scorching hot weather mostly Thai teenagers made appearances on Khao San Road, while only an estimated one-third, some 35 per cent of foreigners joined in the festivities, a sharp drop from last year’s participation level.
However, business operators in the area requested for police reinforcements to patrol in the area to prevent any quarrel which might erupt between the tourists, according to Surat Vongchansilp, president of the Khao San Road Business Association.
On learning that the red-clad anti-government protesters plan to move from Ratchadamnoen Avenue and join fellow activists at Ratchaprasong intersection, Mr. Surat said it is good
news for for Khao San businesses. He expressed hope that more tourists would join the fun-filled festival along Khao San Road.
A festive atmosphere is also seen in other parts of the country. In the northern city of Chiang Mai, more tourists chose to stay at low-priced hotels and hotel bookings in the province are expected at 50-60 per cent, just meeting an earlier target.
In the southern resort of Phuket, known as ‘Pearl of the Andaman’, hotel bookings jumped to around 80-90 per cent and it is estimated that one billion baht would change hands during the festival, according to Bangornrat Chinaprayoon, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Phuket office. (TNA)
Khao San Road is Bangkok's major venue for foreign tourists participating in the water splashing festival. Revellers are allowed to stay only until 10pm Wednesday and many activities were cancelled earlier after the bloody clashes between the government's security forces and anti-government protesters at Khok Wua intersection near Khao San road on Saturday.
Amid the capital's scorching hot weather mostly Thai teenagers made appearances on Khao San Road, while only an estimated one-third, some 35 per cent of foreigners joined in the festivities, a sharp drop from last year’s participation level.
However, business operators in the area requested for police reinforcements to patrol in the area to prevent any quarrel which might erupt between the tourists, according to Surat Vongchansilp, president of the Khao San Road Business Association.
On learning that the red-clad anti-government protesters plan to move from Ratchadamnoen Avenue and join fellow activists at Ratchaprasong intersection, Mr. Surat said it is good
news for for Khao San businesses. He expressed hope that more tourists would join the fun-filled festival along Khao San Road.
A festive atmosphere is also seen in other parts of the country. In the northern city of Chiang Mai, more tourists chose to stay at low-priced hotels and hotel bookings in the province are expected at 50-60 per cent, just meeting an earlier target.
In the southern resort of Phuket, known as ‘Pearl of the Andaman’, hotel bookings jumped to around 80-90 per cent and it is estimated that one billion baht would change hands during the festival, according to Bangornrat Chinaprayoon, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Phuket office. (TNA)
