SURAT THANI, Feb 7 – Thailand’s southern province of Surat Thani will host a mass wedding ceremony at sea on popular Pha-ngan Island next week on the special occasion of Valentine’s Day.
Surat Thani Deputy Governor Chalorsak Vanitchareon and Ko Pha-ngan District Chief Prawes Thaiprayoon jointly told a news briefing on Tuesday that the event is aimed at boosting tourism on the resort island in the Gulf of Thailand, which is well-known for the Full Moon Party among Thai and foreign tourists, as well as to preserve local tradition.
The event will begin with a religious rite on a beach at Ban Chalok Lam Bay. Then the couples will take local fishing boats to the sea near Ma Island, which is famous among foreigners for its beautiful beach and coral reefs, for marriage registration on the boats at sea.
In addition, the organiser will provide free luxury rooms of a five-star hotel for all the marriage couples, Mr Chalorsak announced.
Only 19 couples are allowed to join the ceremony, the deputy governor said, adding that six foreign and three Thai couples have so far registered for the event.
