Thailand’s Songkran festival events cancelled to avoid mass gatherings on Covid-19 spread

(TheStar) – Thailand’s annual Songkran festival to be held in mid-April is appearing to be a quiet one as event organisers cancel several events to avoid mass gatherings and the spread of the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak.

In the eastern side of Chonburi Province, Saensuk municipality mayor Narongchai Khunpluem said the annual Lai Bang Saen and sandcastle building festival, scheduled for April 16th and 17th after the Songkran holidays, will be cancelled to avoid possible spread of the virus.

“I am also urging people not to splash water on one another,” said Narongchai on Friday, adding that pick-up trucks carrying water for the event will be banned.

In the north-eastern province of Khon Kaen, the famous Songkran celebration, which draws tens of thousands of revelers each year, is also canceled, said Khon Kaen municipal mayor Thirasak Teekhayuphan after consultation with local and community leaders.

On the national front, however, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yutthasak Supasorn said they have not decided whether to cancel Songkran celebrations, because it needs to further assess the Covid-19 situation.

“The TAT and the Ministry of Sports and Tourism are capable of organising Songkran celebrations, but may have to limit them to cultural events only,” said Yutthasak.

In Bangkok’s popular back-packer district of Khao Sarn, Sa-nga Ruangwattanakul, president of the Association of Business Operators on Khao Sarn Road, said he will call a meeting of all parties concerned next week to discuss whether this year’s Songkran celebrations on Khao Sarn Road should be called off.

The office of the Committee for Private Education Promotion has also requested all private educational institutes to postpone their sports events and seminars.

The popular full moon party on Ko Pha-ngan Island on March 8 has also been suspended.