(Dubai 19 March 2013): Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Dubai and Middle East Office in conjunction with Royal Thai Consulate General – Dubai, Thai Trade Office and Thai Airways International – Dubai are hosting ‘Songkran Splash’ – an Amazing Thailand Night 2013 on Monday, March 25th at Westin Dubai Mina Siyahi Beach Resort & Spa. The event which is open to partners, media and travel agents is being held to celebrate the Thai New Year, to thank all partners of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Dubai and Middle East office, to formally introduce Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Dubai and Middle East office Director, Mr Chalermsak Suranant and to launch the new Tourism Authority of Thailand Middle East website.
The ‘Songkran Splash’ – an Amazing Thailand Night 2013 will comprise of a Songkran Video presentation, opening remark by H.E. Mr. Thosapol Moonlasartsathorn, Consul-General, Royal Thai Consulate in Dubai, a welcome speech by Mr. Chalermsak Suranant Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand (Dubai & Middle East Office) followed by classical Songkran performances and a dinner reception.
Speaking about the Songkran Splash evening, Mr Chalermsak Suranant Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Dubai and Middle East office Director said: “TAT Dubai and Middle East Office has enjoyed a very successful year and the Songkran Splash evening will be a great opportunity to say “thank-you” to everyone who’s helped to boost Middle East tourism in Thailand. Songkran, the Thai New Year is one of Thailand’s most popular cultural festivals and this event aims to bring some of the Songkran magic and ‘Amazing Thailand’ to Dubai.”
The Thai New Year Festival is held every year from April 13th to 15th and is celebrated throughout the kingdom with lots of water and splashing! Originally the Thai New Year was a time for family members to visit and pay respect to their elders, and today many people are enjoying the celebration through throwing of water. People roam the streets with buckets of water and water pistols and drench each other as well as passers- by! The water, which is sometimes mixed with talcum powder or fragrant herbs, is a symbol of washing away bad things and bringing a clean start to the year.
In 2012, tourist arrivals from the Middle East reached 475,000 with TAT projecting a further 4% increase for 2013. In order to achieve the visitor increase, TAT has introduced a number of campaigns to promote some of the lesser-known regions of Thailand.
Speaking about the campaigns, Chalermsak Suranat, Director of TAT Dubai & the Middle East office, said: “While Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Bangkok are well known by Middle East travellers, our new tourism campaigns have been developed to promote some of Thailand’s other amazing destinations, for example; ‘Bangkok and Beyond: Kanchanaburi, Hua Hin, and Ayutthaya’ and ‘Pattaya and Beyond: Koh Samet and Koh Chang’. The new campaigns will be open to tourists across the GCC and are aimed at increasing the number of Middle East tourists as well boost the average length of stay from five to seven days”.
For further information on destination Thailand contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Dubai & Middle East Office at:
Tourism Authority of Thailand, Dubai & Middle East Office
133 Sheikh Zayed Road, Apartment # 1804,
Dusit Thani Dubai,
P.O. Box 450019, Dubai, U.A.E
Tel: +971 4 324 0184
