WITH the Songkran fun at Silom road having ended today (April 15) the last day of Songkran festival a lot of revellers have turned up at Khaosan road with the total expected to exceed 200,000, Amarin TV said.
Mr. Sanga Ruangwattanakul, president of Khaosan Road Business Association, said it is estimated that approximately 140-150 million baht is circulating daily at this popular road during this year’s festival.
Although advance hotel bookings decreased by approximately 20 percent year-on-year, and Thai people’s purchasing power has dwindled by about 20-30 percent due to the economic downturn and the oil crisis, the number of tourists has increased significantly.
During April 12-13, over 200,000 tourists visited Khao San Road, with over 100,000 people passing through at peak period from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. On April 14 alone, from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., approximately 120,000 tourists visited this area, resulting in an overall growth of about 10 percent compared to last year.
A key factor for an increase in foreign tourists, particularly from Asian countries such as China, Korea, and India, is that many of them opted to spend more time in Bangkok rather than travelling to other Thai destinations.
Regarding crowd management, Sanga mentioned that officials are using technology, including CCTV cameras and AI drones, to monitor crowd density in real-time, allowing for efficient crowd control.
However, despite more tourists flocking in, some business owners reported that sales have not grown accordingly due to the increased number of stalls. This has led to price competition, while Thai consumers’ purchasing power has not yet fully recovered.
Sanga also believes that international recognition of Songkran festival, particularly registration with UNESCO, will continue to attract tourists from around the world every year, despite economic challenges.
CAPTIONS:
Above and Front Page – Songkran revellers at Khao San road today, April 15, 2026.
Insert – Mr. Sanga Ruangwattanakul talking to reporters. All photos – Amarin TV
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