Khao San New Year countdown cancelled

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration officials patrol on Khao San Road on Dec 15. (File photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration officials patrol on Khao San Road on Dec 15. (File photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)

The New Year’s Eve countdown on Khao San Road will be cancelled in light of the current “fragile” mood, but entertainment venues in the popular tourist hangout will be open as usual.

Sa-nga Ruangwatthanakul, president of the Khao San Road Business Operators Association, confirmed the decision on Saturday.

He said that many government agencies had issued announcements asking for cooperation to not hold special events or celebration activities on New Year’s Eve. Because the mood of Thai people was “fragile” at the moment, the association decided to cancel its planned countdown party on Dec 31.

He said he had already notified business operators on Khao San Road. All shared the same view that it would be inappropriate to hold festive activities during this time.

While shops and entertainment venues in the popular backpacker district will be open as usual, there will no festive decorations like before, he added.

Mr Sa-nga did not specifically mention the condition of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha, who has been in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital since the evening of Dec 15.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said on Friday that it backs New Year countdowns and celebrations going ahead as planned as long as the government does not order any cancellations.

Mr Sa-nga said a large balloon would be placed in the middle of Khao San Road for tourists to take photos, and video of countdowns in other countries would be shown for visitors to watch.

Vocabulary

  • association: an official group of people who have joined together for a particular purpose - สมาคม
  • cancel (verb): to decide to stop something that has been arranged from taking place - ยกเลิก
  • celebration: a party or special event at which you celebrate something such as a birthday, a festival or a religious holiday - การฉลอง
  • cooperation: a situation in which people or organisations work together to achieve a result that will benefit all of them - การร่วมมือกัน
  • decoration: a thing that makes something look more attractive on special occasions - เครื่องประดับ
  • festive: connected with a festival or celebration - รื่นเริง, เกี่ยวกับเทศกาล
  • fragile: weak; easy to damage or break - ที่เปราะบาง ไม่แข็งแรงคงทน, ไม่ทนทาน, เสียหายง่าย
  • inappropriate: unsuitable - ซึ่งไม่เหมาะสม
  • mention: to refer to someone or something in speech or writing - กล่าวถึ, เอ่ยถึง, พูดถึง
  • mood: the way you feel at a particular time - อารมณ์
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