Songkran: Thailand’s complex relationship with tourism - Asia Specific podcast, BBC World Service

Songkran - Thailand’s biggest new year water festival is underway. People visit family in their hometowns during the holiday season and wash the feet of their elders with scented water in a cleansing ritual. But the energy crisis has made driving back home prohibitively expensive for many locals this year. Click here to subscribe to our channel ?? https://bbc.in/3VyyriM In the capital of Bangkok, however, celebrations are taking place as usual. Every year, the city transforms into a haven for revellers and holidaymakers from around the world. Thailand’s tourism industry is one of the most visible drivers of its economy, drawing millions of visitors each year with its beaches, culture, and festivals. But that reliance also comes with growing pressure from overcrowded hotspots to environmental strains. And this year, an energy crunch triggered by the war in Iran is adding another layer of uncertainty. It's affecting travel plans, domestic movement, and the cost of keeping the tourism engine running, raising questions about the longevity and sustainability of Thailand’s travel industry. On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi speaks to two guests - Panisa Aemocha, a BBC World Service reporter based in Thailand, and Kiatananatha Lounkaew, an economic professor at Thammasat University in Bangkok, to unpack Thailand’s tourism-dependent economy. 00:00 Introduction 01:15 The evolution of Thailand’s Songkran water festival 03:25 How the energy crisis has affected Thailand’s Songkran 04:27 Why so many foreigners flock to Thailand to celebrate Songkran 06:00 The impact on tourism in Thailand from the jet fuel hikes 06:45 How Thai locals feel about the influx of tourists during Songkran 08:38 How dependent is Thailand’s economy on tourism? 10:14 What is overtourism and how does it affect Thailand? 13:24 Why Thailand has been losing tourists to its neighbours since the Covid-19 pandemic 15:22 Is relying so heavily on tourism a sustainable policy for Thailand? Watch more episodes of Asia Specific here ?? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_B0PFGIn4c3njIxB0KHuO8SS2mBMtUc Instagram: @bbcworldservice Email: [email protected] Presenter: Mariko Oi Producers: Derek Cai, Rachel Lee Camera: Muhammad Firdaus Bin Mohd Ansary, Rosalehin Bin Rosli, Khairul Danish Bin Mohd Roslee Editor: Bill Birtles ---------------- This is the official BBC World Service YouTube channel. If you like what we do, you can also find us here: Instagram ?? https://www.instagram.com/bbcworldservice Twitter ?? https://twitter.com/bbcworldservice Facebook ?? https://facebook.com/bbcworldservice BBC World Service website ?? https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio Thanks for watching and subscribing! #BBCWorldService #WorldService #asiaspecific #asiaspecificpodcast #Songkran #Thailand #Tourism