SITUATIONAL SUMMARY

Songkran, meaning “passage of the sun”, occurs from 13 to 15 April each year (although celebrations usually extend from 11 to 17 April) and celebrates the Thai/Buddhist New Year. It is one of Thailand’s most important holidays and is marked by nationwide celebrations, including parades, religious festivities, and family gatherings.

Widespread water fights are a primary feature of the festival, which symbolise washing away bad luck and welcoming the new year. Many Thais visit temples to “make merit” which typically consists of giving alms to monks and pouring water over statues of the Buddha. Thai residents, diaspora, and tourists usually travel to major cities in Thailand to spend time with their families and participate in the festivities.

Although Songkran is celebrated nationwide, the style of celebrations differs regionally. The largest celebrations typically occur in the capital, Bangkok, a hub for celebrations attracting thousands of nationals and tourists each year. In preparation for the festival, roads are closed and stations equipped with water guns are set up. Chiang Mai is one of the most popular destinations, with thousands gathering around the moat and Thapae Gate to conduct water fights and participate in parades. In Pattaya, the celebrations last until 19 April and include sand pagoda building and live shows.

Related festivals are also celebrated by Cambodia (Cambodian New Year), Laos, Sri Lanka (Sinhalese New Year), Myanmar (Thingyan), Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam in India (Sangken), in Xishuangbanna in China, and parts of northern Vietnam.

The Myanmar earthquake on 28 March 2025, which was felt in Bangkok, will almost certainly impact Songkran. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has confirmed that Songkran will continue, despite the damage, but high-rise hotels will undergo inspections.

The Thai Hotels Association (THA) predicts that tourism revenue will fall by 10-15 per cent over the next two weeks, with tourists either cancelling their trips or changing their destinations to other Thai cities, including Pattaya and Phuket. This will highly likely reduce the density of the people celebrating Songkran in the capital but may conversely increase the density of revellers in other major cities, raising the associated risks.

TRAVEL RISKS: TRANSPORTATION

Songkran is one of the most congested periods of the year and typically causes significant travel disruptions. Many people travel to their hometowns or tourist attractions; with railways being overly crowded and flights being unaffordable, road travel is common, which increases the number of road users during this period. Around Thailand’s major cities, authorities typically close roads ahead of the celebrations and set up checkpoints to deter drunk driving.

The festival attracts many tourists, stretching transportation networks and local infrastructure. In 2024, approximately 1.9 million foreign tourists visited Thailand during Songkran, which was a 37.54 per cent increase from the year before, something attributed to government measures to ease travel and post-COVID increases in tourism. Tourists typically cause an increased demand for public transport, including taxis and buses, further exacerbating the need for locals to use private transport.

Songkran causes a spike in road traffic accidents (RTAs), and the week of festivities is known locally as the “seven dangerous days”. During this period, the RTA rate approximately doubles in a country already experiencing very high rates. From 11 to 17 April 2024, there were at least 480 RTA fatalities and over 2,000 injuries, equating to approximately 69 fatalities per day. This puts Thailand temporarily in the top 10 the most dangerous countries in the world for RTAs during Songkran. Motorcycles account for most of the deaths, which are generally attributed to driving while intoxicated, speeding, cutting lanes, wet road surfaces, and inadequate safety wear. Revellers throwing water at cars and motorcycles has also contributed to causing accidents.

TRAVEL RISKS: CRIME

The large crowds and heavy tourist presence also raise the likelihood of petty theft, including pickpocketing and bag snatching. In 2024, organised gangs targeted festival-goers at the Pattaya Water Festival, stealing large amounts of cash, mobile phones, credit cards, and essential documents. Foreign travellers are often targeted because of their perceived higher wealth and unfamiliarity with the local area.

Violent crime typically also increases around Songkran due to the large crowds, widespread alcohol consumption, and road rage. In Pattaya, during the 2024 celebrations, a man was arrested after threatening others with a gun after a violent altercation. In the Isaan province of Roi Et the same year, six men were arrested for beating and stabbing two travellers after an argument linked to road congestion.

Men are generally disproportionately at risk of being violently assaulted, accounting for 82 per cent of deaths from assault during Songkran from 2009 to 2011. Attacks on foreigners are often linked to cultural and social misunderstandings perceived as disrespectful or insulting to Thai culture. Examples include excessive intoxication, criticism of the monarchy, wearing unsuitable attire at culturally significant sites, showing disrespect toward national symbols like the Thai flag or anthem, and engaging in overt public displays of affection.

Sexual harassment, sexual assault, and drink spiking also pose a risk to both locals and travellers, with women reporting cases of harassment during water fights. A survey taken in March 2024 found that 32.43 per cent of the Bangkok residents surveyed were sexually harassed at Songkran celebrations in the previous three years and 14.9 per cent did not join water fights due to fears of sexual harassment. Authorities typically launch anti-harassment campaigns leading up to Songkran, stressing its illegality.

While celebrations are widespread, travellers can face penalties for involving unwilling participants. Splashing water on people not involved in the celebrations can be considered causing a nuisance or damaging property, leading to potential prison sentences of up to one month or a 10,000-baht (228 GBP) fine. During the 2024 celebrations, for example, three tourists from Hong Kong were jailed for 28 days after splashing a police officer with water. Similarly, dumping powder on unwilling participants, an act which typically involves non-consensual contact, could result in a public indecency charge.

TRAVEL RISKS: HEALTH

The water fights, large crowds, and high temperatures during Songkran frequently result in elevated health risks. Songkran is often associated with higher rates of colds, flu, respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, skin diseases, and conjunctivitis. This is largely due to untreated water being used during water fights, which can carry bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. For example, in Chiang Mai, water is often taken from the moat, while in other towns, it is often sourced from lakes and rivers.

In 2015, lab tests detected a large number of parasites in the Chiang Mai moat, triggering cleaning operations before the festival. In 2024, at least 65 children contracted rotavirus after attending a foam party in Suphan Buri. In the same year, new COVID-19 cases surged to a daily average of 143 during the week following Songkran. The combined risks of infection, road traffic accidents, and the aftermath of the earthquake will likely put a strain on hospitals during Songkran in 2025.