Thai people cautious in spending during Songkran festival: survey
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).
Bangkok (VNA) 🔯- More people are expected to travel during the long Songkranholiday this year than last year but they will be more cautious in theirspending, due to the higher cost of living and indebtedness, according to asurvey conducted by the Economic and Business Forecast Centre of the Universityof the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).
Thecentre gauged the opinions of 1,280 people in various occupations from March 25 to30. Up to 66%of the respondents said they intend to celebrate the Songkran festival by meritmaking, 42% by paying respects to senior citizens or relatives, 41.6% bysplashing water at one another and 39.2% at parties. Morethan a half of the respondents said they will travel, but mostly within theirrespective provinces, 26% said they will stay home, 10.6% said they will travelto other provinces. Themost popular domestic tourist destinations are Chon Buri, Ayutthaya, Rayong,Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phuket, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammaratand Bangkok. Average domestic travel spending per head is estimated at 6,425THB (nearly 175 USD), while average foreign travel spending is estimated at40,129 THB per head. ThanawatPholvichai, advisor to the forecast centre and rector of the university, saidthat spending by foreign tourists and locals during the festival period thismonth is estimated at between 140 billion and 200 billion THB. Songkranthis year is likely to be livelier and festive events are expected to generateincreased spending, he said, adding that in April alone, about 3.2 millionforeign tourists are expected to visit Thailand. Heestimated that the Songkran festival will stimulate economic growth by 2.01% to2.50%. The festival is to be held throughout the country over 21days, but especially for five days from April 12-16, to mark it being recognisedas an Intangible Cultural Heritage by the United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)./.
Thailand welcomed 9,370,297 overseas visitors in the first quarter of this year, a 44% jump year on year, the country’s Tourism and Sports Ministry has reported.
The Thai cabinet has approved a plan to increase the 2025 budget deficit by 153 billion THB (3.6 billion USD), a move aimed at stimulating the economy which is lagging its peers in the region.
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.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
