Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, chaired the meeting of the integrated committee for organizing the Maha Songkran Festival in the Bangkok area for the year 2024 at Rattanakosin Room, Bangkok City Hall (Giant Swing), Phra Nakhon District.
He said after the meeting that today was a meeting to integrate the agencies involved in organizing the Songkran festival. Almost all agencies under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration also attended this meeting, including external agencies and agencies under the Royal Thai Police.
This year’s Songkran event is important and it is expected that many people will attend as the government has emphasized the soft power of festivals or Thai traditional festivals. It includes a time when the economy is recovering from the COVID situation. There is also a free Thai-Chinese visa measure. The Bangkok area is an area where many Songkran festivals are held. Therefore, the principle is to emphasize safety and build confidence among tourists because it is believed that there will be millions of people attending the event.
From the current collection of venues, there are a total of 118 venues and 15-16 are highlights. We would like to emphasize the issue of transportation, which is to reduce the use of personal cars or motorcycles entering the event area and use public transportation or walking to the event area instead. We do not provide parking in the event area and emphasize road safety. Statistics during the 7 dangerous days of last year’s Songkran Festival (11-17 April 2023) found a cumulative total of 37 accidents in the Bangkok area, including 26 injuries and 22 deaths. The vehicles that cause the most accidents are motorcycles.
Bangkok has taken lessons from last year and cooperated with the Royal Thai Police on safety at both the event area and road safety and speed control. This includes avoiding driving under the influence of alcohol to reduce damage and nuisance and will be discussed with transit administrators and arrange additional feeder vehicles to connect travel to the event area more conveniently, including bringing bike-sharing bicycles for travel as well.
Mr. Sanon Wangsrangboon, Deputy Governor of Bangkok added that this year a web app will be created to display a map of the event so that people can know where when, and how wet level they are. Highlights this year will be at the city square, Khao San Road, Sanam Luang, Ratchadamnoen Klang, Santichaiprakan Park, Silom Road, etc. There will be a detailed announcement on April 9 about where the highlight events are or how the roads will be closed. , as well as where designated parking spots will be announced.
“I would like to request people’s cooperation in planning their travel well, reducing the use of personal cars or motorcycles for Songkran by respecting the rights of others. Please do not use high-pressure water guns, do not play with clay, and do not drink alcohol in public. For street vendors, please only sell in designated areas as everyone can have fun without creating a nuisance to others. Bangkok and all agencies will perform their duties to ensure everyone’s safety to the utmost,” the governor said.
