PUBLISHED : 27 Oct 2023 at 06:14
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will attend the opening ceremony of “Naga Fire: Miracle of Faith 2023” in Phon Phisai district of Nong Khai on Oct 29, government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said yesterday.
He added that the premier will stay overnight in Udon Thani before departing for Laos a day later. This will be Mr Srettha’s first official trip to the country since he was appointed premier.
A collaboration between the government and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), “Naga Fire: Miracle of Faith 2023” will be held on that day in Nong Khai, which coincides with the end of this year’s Buddhist Lent.
Nong Khai governor Rachan Chunhua and San Sunthornthanakul, the mayor of Tambon Phon Phisai Municipality, affirmed their readiness to welcome visitors. They are expecting at least 200,000 tourists to show up this year.
This annual festival brings in billions of baht of income to the province. Moreover, the event is expected to help promote the province’s tourism while providing visitors, both Thai and from overseas, with a warm welcome, said Mr Rachan.
Events are also being held simultaneously in six of the province’s districts near the Mekong River — namely, Muang Nong Khai, Phon Phisai, Ratana Wapi, Sangkhom, Sri Chiang Mai, and Tha Bo.
These first got underway on Oct 21 and will wrap up on Nov 6.
According to Mr Chai, 80.2% of visitors to last year’s “Naga Fire” festival responded that they were satisfied with the event. Of those, 59.6% said they had attended it more than once, while 40.4% were visiting for the first time.
According to the statistics gathered by Nong Khai’s Office of Provincial Administration, 260 fireballs were shot in total: 20 in Phon Phisai district and 240 in Ratana Wapi district.