Phangan full moon party postponed

Phangan full moon party postponed

The Full Moon Party at Surat Thani's Koh Phangan will be postponed on Monday and Tuesday due to the Buddhist religious festival, Makha Bucha Day.

Tourists dance and party at Koh Phangan last year. (File Photo)

Wannee Thaipanich, president of the Phangan Tourist Promotion Association, said the postponement will enable Buddhists to observe religious practices on Monday.

The delay would have no impact on tourism activities but would encourage travellers to extend their stay in the area, she said.

Ms Wannee said tourists are streaming to the island. Accommodation near Haad Rin Beach, where the party is held, is nearly full.

New tourist groups on the island include Indians and Chinese, she added.

Ms Wannee said the party, also planned this year for two other Buddhist festivals - Visakha Bucha on May 24 and Asarnha Bucha on July 22 - will be postponed from those days to May 25 and July 24 respectively. The Buddhist days and the monthly tourist binge are scheduled on days of a full moon.

Surat Thani governor Chatpong Chataraputi said Phangan district officers would train 200 village volunteers to help police handle security.

Security is being boosted after a British tourist was killed by a stray bullet during a fight between two local rival groups on Haad Rin Beach on New Year’s Eve last year.

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