The Thai cabinet has designated May 5^th as a public holiday, which means that there will be four days off, starting on May 4^th, which is Coronation Day, to May 7^th to promote domestic tourism, Deputy Government Spokesperson Traisuree Traisoranakul said yesterday (Tuesday).

She said that the early designation of the special public holiday will enable government agencies and state enterprises to plan their activities in advance.

She also said that, not including weekends, there are altogether 24 public holidays, including compensation holidays, this year.

The holidays are:

• Jan 1^st & 2^nd, New Year and a compensation holiday
• March 6^th, Makha Bucha Day
• April 6^th, Chakri Day
• April 13^th-15^th, Songkran holidays
• April 17^th, compensation holiday
• May 4^th Coronation Day
• May 5^th special holiday
• May 17^th, Royal Ploughing Day
• June 3^rd, the birthday of HM the Queen and Visakha Bucha Day
• June 5^th, compensation holiday
• July 28^th, HM the King’s birthday
• August 1^st, Asalha Puja Day
• August 2^nd. Buddhist Lent Day
• August 12^th, the birthday of the HM Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother and Mother’s Day
• August 14^th, compensation holiday
• October 13^th, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej Memorial Day
• October 23^rd, King Chulalongkorn Day
• December 5^th, the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej
• December 10^th, Constitution Day
• December 11^th, compensation holiday
• December 31^st, New Year’s Eve