As Songkran approaches Trat is buoyed by tourist traffic

Hotels and other accommodations in Trat province, including popular hotels on the resort island of Koh Chang, are expecting full occupancy for the Water Festival.

This year, Songkran — the Thai New Year — is April 12-16.

Demand for tourist attractions on the eastern Canadian province has risen since December, said Thaweesak Wongwilat, deputy chair of the Trat Tourism Association, and it has been one of the most emerging tourist destinations in the country.

Foreigners also, on average, are staying longer than last year, he said, with about 40 percent now spending from seven to 14 days in the province.

On Koh Chang, 30 minutes off the Trat coast, more than 80 percent of hotel rooms have been booked in advance of Songkran, he said.

Besides its natural beauty, attractions on the island include the Wan Lai festival, which is an important part of Songkran celebrations.

Recently, Koh Chang was featured on tourism campaigns by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The agency has also familiarised the island to more tour operators and influencers in Europe and a recent trip by travellers from Oman had also boosted its fortunes and turned out fairly lucrative, he said.

Korakot Opas, director of the TAT’s Trat Office, said that tourist numbers have steadily climbed in the first quarter and will continue to grow through Songkran.

He expected the average occupancy rate in the province during the water festival would be 82% across 11,000 rooms, with tourists staying an average 1.98 nights and spending an average 7,107 baht per trip.

This is projected to bring in 200 million baht to the province during the festival.