Tourism-related businesses in Bangkok’s Khaosan area, a favourite destination for backpackers before the COVID-19 pandemic, will consult the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) and other agencies about allowing them to hold Songkran celebrations and water splashing events in the area.

President of the Khaosan Road Business Association, Sa-nga Ruangwattanakul, said today (Sunday) that it would be a pity if Thailand loses another chance this year to draw foreign tourists to Thailand during the long Songkran holidays to enjoy the water festivities, especially in the Khaosan area.

On Friday, the CCSA eased some restrictions by allowing certain celebrations, including water splashing, to be held during the Songkran festival, but with safety measures to be observed, such as participants wearing face masks all the time, the maintenance of social distancing and screening at celebration venues. Even organisers will be required to seek prior permission from provincial communicable disease committee.

Sa-nag said that Khaosan businesses are ready to comply with the safety measures, such as the 5,000 limit on the number of Songkran revellers and COVID-19 screening.

After two years of living with coronavirus, he said that businesses are familiar with the disease and the preventive measures needed.

Although Thailand reopened its doors to foreign arrivals on November 1^st last year, Sa-nga said that the hotel occupancy rate in the Khaosan area is only about 20%, due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, but he hopes that this will pick up during the Songkran festival.