The National Museum Bangkok and 10 major temples in Bangkok will open to visitors at night from 24 December 2023 to 2 January 2024, to celebrate the New Year and promote Thailand’s tourism and “soft power.”
Minister of Culture Sermsak Pongpanit said that the program is part of “Thailand Winter Festivals,” launched by the Government to attract more tourist arrivals and to show Thailand’s potential to become a world festival hub. It is also a result of cooperation between the Ministry of Culture, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
The 10 temples include (1) Wat Ratchabophit, (2) Wat Traimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha), (3) Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Pho), (4) Wat Prayurawongsawas, (5) Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit, (6) Wat Suthat, (7) Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn, (8) Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple), (9) Wat Ratchanatdaram, and (10) Wat Rakhang Khositaram.
Mr. Sermsal said that the weather in the evening is not hot and that the program is expected to increase the number of tourists and enable other tourism-related businesses, such as hotel and restaurant services, to earn more income. This will also help stimulate the Thai economy.
The Ministry of Culture has asked cooperation from the police to step up safety measures for tourists in each area. Signboards will be installed to inform visitors of check-in points and activities at these temples.
Minister Sermsak believed that visitors would be impressed with the beauty of the National Museum Bangkok and the cultural and historical sites at night. More details may be obtained at the Culture Hotline 1765.
Another activity is the follow-up on the announcement of the inclusion of Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year festival, on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, at its 18th session in Kasane, Botswana, will consider the inscription of Songkran and other new elements as Intangible Cultural Heritage on 6 December 2023.
Celebrations for the inscription of Songkran will be held by the Ministry of Culture on 7 December at Lan Khon Mueang, Bangkok City Hall, and at Wat Suthat, opposite the Bangkok City Hall. (PRD)
