Over 30,000 visitors to generate millions for local economy
More than 30,000 Malaysians are expected to come to Songkhla during the Songkran Festival, and hopes are high they will pump 300-500 million baht into the local economy, tourism operators say.
Songchai Mungprasitthichai, chairman of the Songkhla Tourism Promotion Association, said Malaysian tourists would spend at least 10,000 baht per person during April 12-14.
Even though the Thai New Year falls in the period of Ramadan, the ringgit has now dropped to 7.60-7.70 baht per one ringgit, an important factor to encourage Malaysian spenders to come to Thailand.
Witthaya Sae Lim, former chairman of the Songkhla professional guides association, said about 40,000-50,000 Malaysians once came to Songkhla for the Songkran Festival, and some would even book their accommodation one year in advance.
The Department of Highways (DoH) expects to see over seven million cars departing and arriving in Bangkok during the period, an increase of 5.3% compared to last year.
Department chief Sarawut Songwilai said April 12 is expected to be the busiest day in terms of outgoing vehicles with around 600,000 journeys, while on April 16 there will be a similar number of returns, he said.
Meanwhile, the DoH said construction of the 96.4-kilometre Motorway No 81, or M81, could be completed in time to open by 2025.
Linking Bang Yai district in Nonthaburi with the western province Kanchanaburi, the construction of M81 is 90% finished, said Inter-City Motorway Division director Thanasak Wongtanakitcharoen.
The construction and expropriation budget has been set at 56.1 billion baht while operation and maintenance costs will be 17.9 billion baht.
Work on the motorway is split into 25 contracts, 14 of which have been completed, said Mr Thanasak.
The M81 project is part of the government’s public-private partnership (PPP) fast-track scheme, initiated in 2016 to speed up crucial infrastructure investment projects under the Ministry of Transport.
Mr Thanasak said the DoH would organise a market-sounding exercise in May and offer a proposal to investors to develop and operate rest areas on a 30-year concession.