Bangkok: "Silom Songkran" has set a new record with 650,000 people participating in the water fights over three days, as revealed by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The event, held from April 10-13, was part of the larger Songkran festivities in Bangkok, which saw a cumulative total of over 1.6 million participants across the city's top water-playing locations.
According to Thai News Agency, the last day of Songkran festivities on Silom Road marked a significant milestone as the number of participants surpassed last year's record, with 252,265 individuals joining the water splashing activities on April 14 alone. The previous days also saw impressive turnout numbers, with 164,583 participants on April 12 and 236,126 on April 13.
The Songkran festival across Thailand was marked by vibrant activities, with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reporting a circulation of 22 billion baht during the festival. Ms. Thapanee Kiatpaiboon, Governor of the TAT, noted the lively organization of the 2026 Songkran festival, highlighting the increased confidence of both Thai and foreign tourists who traveled extensively during the holiday period.
In southern Thailand, the tourism sector experienced significant growth, particularly in Songkhla province. The Sadao border crossing reported a steady influx of tourists, especially from Malaysia, with over 70,000 visitors recorded between April 10-12, generating over 700 million baht in revenue.
For the international market, approximately 500,000 foreign tourists are expected to visit Thailand, reflecting a 4 percent increase and generating around 8.1 billion baht in revenue, up by 2 percent. Domestically, 5,963,000 Thai visitors are anticipated, marking a 7 percent increase and contributing approximately 22.25 billion baht in tourism revenue, an 8 percent rise.