Thailand rolls out the red carpet for visitors during the festive season.
As Thailand’s travel industry embarks on the road to recovery after Bangkok’s airports were closed for 10 days, late November and early December, the focus is now on welcoming tourists back for the festive season that begins in earnest on Christmas Eve, 24 December, and continues though the New Year celebrations to 2 January.
Thailand remains a safe and hospitable destination and there is every reason for visitors to return now and enjoy a festive season that will be both enjoyable and value for money.
Hotels and travel companies are rolling out the red carpet offering discounts on rooms and other incentives to demonstrate to visitors that it is business as usual.
So where should we take time out to enjoy the New Year festivities? Try your favourite destination, or perhaps you are thinking of a change of scenery this year, travelling to Thailand’s pretty northern hill country instead of its southern tropical beaches.
The truth is travellers are welcome to join the fun of the New Year countdown just about anywhere in Thailand.
Bangkok 2009 Countdown Party will focus on the downtown district Ploenchit-Ratchaprasong-Pathumwan area close to the Skytrain main station. Visitors can easily commute to the main venue, next to Central World, by skytrain from hotels along Sukhumvit Road and areas around Silom Road. It will packed out, a capacity crowd of New Year revellers who will be enjoying the short cool season at beer gardens, while enjoying the live stage concerts all along the popular Ratchaprasong shopping and entertainment strip.
At the east coast resort of Pattaya, the countdown celebrations focus on a small strip of real estate at the southern end of the bay. Known as the Bali Hai Cape habour it will be transformed by thousands of street lights and decorations, for continuous live concerts by singers leading up to the midnight firework display.
On the Gulf of Thailand side of the southern peninsular, Hat Yai celebrates what it calls the Night Paradise Countdown 2009. Streets will be illuminated with festive lights and decorations at two venues -- Thammanun Intersection in front of Khao Tom Nai Yao shop for popular band concerts and also in front of Wat Chin Niphat Uthit 3 Road. The opening ceremony will be held on the afternoon of 31 December with a carnival followed by the Countdown Celebrations.
On the Andaman Sea coast, the island of Phuket will celebrate a “Colourful Phuket Countdown 2009” starting early on 25 December and continuing nightly to 31 December, at Surin Traffic Circle (Clock Town), from 1830 to 2400. A “Seafood Fest” is the main highlight, where visitors will be entertained by traditional dances, dance contests, concerts, and finally the fun of the countdown to the New Year with an impressive fireworks display.
The north’s most popular destination, Chiang Mai, celebrates New Year mainly around the old city’s Phae road and at Tha Phae gate. There will be live concerts and countdown party on the road which will be closed to traffic
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