Water-splashing during the Songkran festival will not continue for the whole month of planned celebrations, as earlier announced, Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol said on Tuesday.
Songkran festival activities were planned from April 1 until the end of the month, but not water splashing, the minister said.
To prevent misunderstanding by local and foreign tourists, Ms Sudawan said, her ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand would publish the schedules and venues of Songkran-related activities nationwide this month.
The minister said there would be big Songkran events at Sanam Luang in Bangkok from April 11 to 15 (Thursday to Monday). There would be concerts, big water domes, floats and drone flying every day.
In December last year Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is president of the National Soft Power Strategy Committee, announced that people would be allowed to splash water throughout April, to make Songkran a unique festival.
In February the government announced that Songkran festival activities would be held nationwide from April 1-21.
A Chinese visitor showed up at Asok intersection in downtown Bangkok with a water gun and goggles last week, expecting to enjoy water splashing. He was disappointed, and complained because the water festival did not contnue through most of the month as he had been led to believe it would.
