No 9-day Songkran for you, Thailand

Photo: Coconuts
Photo: Coconuts

Two-week April vacations were being called off after the prime minister today declined to consider making Songkran a full week, effectively extending it to nine days of holiday.

The cabinet did not take up the proposal during its weekly meeting that would have added April 16 & 17, a Thursday and Friday, to follow the three weekdays allotted by the calendar to Thai New Year. Gen. Prayuth Chan-o-cha announced his decision not to decide at about 3pm from the Government House.

“Normal holidays are enough … Extending holidays wouldn’t really boost the economy,” he said, hours after going off on reporters for asking him about it.

Reversing declining tourism fortunes in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak was among the reasons cited Sunday when it was raised by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.

Related:

The Longest Sonkgran? Cabinet may declare 9-day holiday



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