Hotel reservations in Chiang Mai province for this Songkran are down from last year's level, according to a report by the Songkran Festival Information Centre. The centre was established by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Chiang Mai Tourism Association.

The TAT said the average hotel occupancy rate in Chiang Mai was expected to be 70 per cent during the festival, a slight drop from last year. About 60 per cent of the bookings would be from domestic travellers and the rest from foreign tourists.

The TAT projected that Chiang Mai will earn Bt100 million in revenue during the festival.

Thai Airways International and low-cost airlines have already received ticket bookings for 85-90 per cent of total seats during the festival. Meanwhile, The Transport Co and the State Railway of Thailand say tickets are fully booked. The Transport Co will increase the number of its buses between Bangkok and Chiang Mai from 320 to 440.

Nok Air plans to add extra flights to accommodate passengers from April 12 to 16. The extra flights will be on the Don Muang-Udon Thani and Don Muang-Chiang Mai routes.

The airline is operating seven daily flights to Phuket, six flights to Chiang Mai, five to Hat Yai, three to Udon Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat, two to Trang and Krabi and two per week to Loei.

Chiang Mai Tourism Association vice president Vorapong Muchaotai said the tourism business in Chiang Mai would not be as good this year as last year because tourists had already visited the province during Royal Flower Expo, which finished early this year.

Thai Travel Agents Association vice president Vichit Prakobkosol said only Chinese tourists would show a significant increase in numbers during Songkran.

 "There will be 40 charter flights or 10,000 tourists from China to Thailand during the Songkran festival this year," Vichit said. "They are expected to spend Bt1 billion while visiting Thailand."

Piyabut Jivoramonaiyakul, president of the Khao San Business Association, said tourists would be as numerous as last year. Hotel occupancy rates near Khao San Road are expected to rise from the current 70 per cent to 80-90 per cent.

"Many Western tourists want to visit Thailand during Songkran, but they can't get airline seats. The total number of visitors to Khao San Road is expected to reach 100,000 this year," Piyabut said.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will add another 1,000 police and guards as part of security measures throughout the capital during the festival.

Thai Travel Agents Association president Anake Sroshevachart said the number of Thai tourists going abroad for Songkran would fall by 10 per cent. The association projected that Thai tourists would spend Bt1 billion overseas during the festival.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation