Most Thais have travel plans during Songkran Festival

BANGKOK, April 11 (TNA) - A recent survey has found that most people have had their travel plans during Thailand's Songkran Festival this week. The survey, conducted on 1,081 community leaders sampled nationwide by the Thai Researchers in Community Happiness Association (TRICHA), showed that 87.8 per cent of the respondents would travel, while only 12.2 per cent would not. TRICHA President Associated Professor Chet Ratchadapannathikul told journalists that the poll also showed 78.3 per cent of respondents would visit tourist destinations, 65.9 per cent would have activities with their families, 48.8 per cent would visit relatives, 47.5 per cent would join water festivals and 37.7 per cent would have parties with friends. The TRICHA president noted, however, that nearly half of the respondents felt the Songkran or the traditional Thai New Year Festival this year appears not the same as previous years. The TRICHA president explained that 47.3 per cent of the respondents thought the Songkran Festival this year would be different due to campaigns for water saving, polite and traditional celebrations and road safety, with some of them opining this year's Songkran Festival being more quiet. Nonetheless, 52.7 per cent of the respondents said Songkran this year would be the familiar festival that they had experienced previously. According to the poll, most respondents expressed their intentions to keep Songkran traditions, extend traditional Thai New Year wishes to senior citizens they know, make merits and traditionally bathe Buddha images. Asked for preferable collective activities for this year's Songkran Festival, 90 per cent of the respondents would like Thai people to pray for the good health of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 61.4 per cent called for water saving, 58.5 per cent urged for the preservation of Songkran traditions and 14.8 per cent recommended safe driving. (TNA)