BANGKOK, Oct 28 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will postpone the public celebrations and associated events of the annual Loy Krathong festival, scheduled for November 17, due to Thailand’s month of mourning in respect of His Holiness Supreme Patriarch who passed away on Thursday.
TAT deputy governor Thawatchai Arunyik said a new date for the festival, one of the major attractions for foreign tourists, will be announced later.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said it would hold the traditional festival as planned but entertainment activities would be called off.
The BMA’s main venues for the Loy Krathong festival are on the banks of the Chao Phraya River under the Rama VIII Bridge and at 28 public parks in the capital.
Manit Techa-apichoke, BMA deputy permanent secretary, said City Hall decided to go ahead with the festival minus entertainment activities to facilitate the private sector and travel agencies which have bookings from tourists from around the world who are coming to join the festival.
BMA officials must make a final decision before announcing the dates today, he said.
