TAT Plans Big New Year Countdown Event Along Chao Phraya River

BANGKOK, Dec 14 (TNA) -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand and partners plans grand New Year countdown events in five provinces including Bangkok where the longest firework made from sticky rice and a Khon masked dance performance will be highlights. TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said that the Amazing Thailand Countdown 2019 in Bangkok was set at the ICONSIAM shopping complex by the Chao Phraya river. There a firework made from sticky rice would be lit for a distance of 1.4 kilometers to show the history of the river. Another highlight there would be a Khon masked dance aimed to celebrate the UNESCO’s listing of Khon as a world heritage, he said. Apart from Bangkok, TAT will also organize its New Year countdown events in Nakhon Phanom, Chiang Rai, Ratchaburi and Satun to promote the second-tier tourism provinces. Mr Yuthasak expected 520,000 foreign tourists and 2.7 million Thai tourists during New Year celebrations from Dec 29 to Jan 1. The country should generate at least 17 billion baht of tourism-related income during the period, he said. Bangkok was likely to welcome 220,000 foreign tourists in the same period, he said. Hotels, restaurants and boats along the Chao Phraya river section in Bangkok were fully booked for Dec 31, he said. The 9 MCOT HD TV channel will provide the live coverage of the countdown in Bangkok from 11pm on Dec 31. (TNA)