BANGKOK, March 27 – Business operators in Khao San Road said cancelling the controversial Songkran Festival 2014 planned in Singapore could result from lifting the emergency decree in Thailand.
Khao San Road Business Association president Sanga Ruangwattanakul said he believed that Singapore has opted to cancel the water splashing activity from its Songkran Festival 2014 may result from revoking the emergency decree in the Thai capital and its adjacent provinces.
Mr Sanga said that the event was never a problem for the Thai tourism industry as water throwing was never rooted in Singapore’s culture.
The Singapore organisers have planned to hold a similar festival because they saw business opportunities as Thailand was under the emergency decree and tourists may not be confident of their safety when enjoying the festival in Thailand.
However, as the Thai government revoked the emergency decree, the organiser may think that it was not worth competing with the original water splashing event in Thailand.
It has adjusted the plan for its Celebrate Songkran festival and avoided the social protests by using the dry spell and move the cutback on water usage as reasons.
The other activities will still being held during the festival.
According to Mr Sanga, Songkran will be celebrated on Khao San Road, a top tourist destination for water slashing venue in Bangkok, April 12 o 15, amid additional personnel being deployed to closely monitor the festivities, while using talcum powder and wearing improper clothing are not permitted for public safety.
