Comprehensive safety protocols for Songkran venues have been set up throughout Bangkok to ensure a safe and enjoyable festival.

Kantapong Thananerngroth, President of the Thai Tourism Promotion Association, said many domestic tour agencies received fewer bookings from local tour groups than expected for Songkran, attributed to weakened spending and travel sentiment.

Deputy government spokesman Anukul Prueksanusak has cited findings from a recent consumer behaviour survey conducted by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, which said spending during Songkran is projected to increase by 4.5% to 134 billion THB (3.8 billion USD), up from last year’s 129 billion THB

The annual celebration demonstrated the friendship among the people of ASEAN member countries, thereby contributing to deepening mutual understanding between Vietnam and its neighbours, and enhancing cultural exchanges and multifaceted cooperation between the Vietnamese people, and those in HCM in particular and their Lao, Cambodian, Thai and Myanmar counterparts.

Following an assessment of the situation after the recent earthquake, the TAT reported that conditions in Bangkok and other regions had returned to normal.

Thailand’s number of COVID-19 cases continued to rise over the past week from April 28 to May 4, with 1,792 people hospitalised and 12 succumbed to the disease, according to the country’s Department of Disease Control.

More people are expected to travel during the long Songkran holiday this year than last year but they will be more cautious in their spending, due to the higher cost of living and indebtedness, according to a survey conducted by the Economic and Business Forecast Centre of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

The Transport Ministry of Thailand has instructed the Airports of Thailand (AoT) and all related agencies to ensure the safety of passengers during Songkran, the traditional New Year festival of the Southeast Asian country that will be held from April 13-15.

Migrant workers from Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar who plan to go home during the Songkran holidays or any time between April 1 and May 15 will not need a re-entry permit, if a proposal by Thailand's Labour Ministry is approved by the Cabinet.

Thailand’s Cabinet has approved a special budget of 104.87 million THB (more than 2.9 million USD) for holding the “Maha Songkran World Water Festival” in Bangkok and some key provinces in mid-April.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on April 19 estimated that Songkran celebrations have seen about 18.5 billion THB (537 million USD) in spending by revellers across the country.

Thai health officials nationwide have been ordered to watch for new COVID-19 outbreaks and prepare medication and equipment for inpatients, in the wake of Songkran festivities.

The traditional New Year festivals of Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar - Bunpimay, Songkran, Chol Chhnam Thmay, and Thingyang - were celebrated at a ceremony at Pho Minh Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City on April 14.

Thai anti-narcotics police have seized large quantities of drugs and arrested 15 suspects in operations in northern and northeastern provinces between March 28 and April 4.

Massive Songkran festival will be held across Thailand in April to further stimulate the resurgent tourism industry, Thai government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri said on March 26.

A ceremony was held at Pho Minh Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City on April 14 to celebrate the traditional New Year of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has decided to cancel all activities celebrating the traditional New Year festival, Songkran, in all districts of the province in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The Lao Government has decided to postpone all big meetings gathering large number of people for major celebrations in 2020 as a strong measure to prevent outbreaks of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Thailand’s tourism officials on February 14 proposed visa-free entry for Chinese citizens to revive tourism, following a forecast by the Bank of Thailand (BoT) that the new coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak may drag down the Thai economic growth to below 2 percent.

A friendship exchange with Lao, Thai and Myanmar students pursuing education in the northern port city of Hai Phong was held in the locality on April 11.