After a successful year in the tourism sector, Thailand is looking to finish 2023 with a flourish. Following last month’s iconic Loi Krathong festival, December is set to be a month to remember, with a series of celebrations that form part of the kingdom’s ongoing sustainable tourism promotions.
From 25-27 November, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) hosted Loi Krathong Festival 2023 at Bangkok’s Phadung Krung Kasem Canal. The event allowed visitors to experience the traditions of Chiang Mai, Roi Et, Samut Songkhram, Sukhothai and Tak; tourists and locals gathered together at lakes, rivers, canals and beaches to float krathong (traditional floating rafts, made with banana leaves and decorated with flowers, incense and candles) as a way of paying respect to the river goddess.
“This special Loi Krathong event is held annually in Bangkok to give tourists a taste of the importance of the festival to the Thai people while showcasing how it is observed differently throughout the country,” said Ms. Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Minister of Tourism and Sports.
“This year’s festivity is especially important, as it marks the start of the Thailand Winter Festival and the Colourful Bangkok Winter Festival, the grand year-end spectacles announced by the Thai government to promote Thai soft powers and elevating national events and festivals on the global stage,” added the minister.
As part of Thailand’s commitment to sustainable tourism, TAT has been encouraging all festivalgoers to only use krathongs made from biodegradable materials, while also limiting the number of rafts that are made and released. At the Bangkok event, the TAT ‘zero landfills’ concept was in action, with proper waste separation and disposal applied to all activities.
Loi Krathong is the first in a series of festivals and performances scheduled for December. The Vijit Chao Phraya light extravaganza will feature firework displays, light shows, projection mapping and cultural performances, highlighting Bangkok’s historical sites and famous attractions on both banks of the Chao Phraya River. Then, on New Year’s Eve, the Amazing Thailand Countdown 2024 will illuminate Wat Arun with a mix of firework displays, light shows and cultural performances.
For visitors to Bangkok in December, the Thailand Winter Festival and Colourful Bangkok Winter Festival will add extra sparkle to their trip. For tourism officials in the Land of Smiles, the festival provides an exclamation point to a very successful year.
