The ‘Thai Songkran Festival’ has been selected by the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) as one of the three major festivals of Asia, reports the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The announcement was made at the 2021 International Marine City Online Festival Forum held in South Korea on 25 July 2021.
The Governor of the TAT, Yuthasak Supasorn said “To see our beloved Songkran festival recognised so prestigiously is something all Thais can be extremely proud of. At the same time, the recognition should prove very valuable in helping promote Thailand as a destination that is once again open to the world’s travellers.”
The Award places Songkran, the most famous of Thailand’s annual festivals alongside China’s Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival and South Korea’s Boryeong Mud Festival as the three major festivals of Asia. Songkran takes place in mid-April, the Boryeong Mud Festival in July, and Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival from late December-February.
The festival awards aim to gauge the popularity among foreign tourists, and also giving the various host countries a dedicated platform through which to market their events internationally.
The three major festivals were selected by the IFEA from a total of 37 festivals in Asia. A committee conducted 2 rounds of selection, the first round choosing 10 festivals from the overall field of 37 festivals, and the second round choosing the final three festivals from the 10 festivals.
