Can Thailand Celebrate Songkran Water Festival and Still Be Eco-Friendly?
Photo by Tourism Authority of Thailand
Songkran is an event of immense cultural significance celebrated in Thailand every April. "It is a time when people reunite with their families and pay their respects to elders and sacred Buddha images," says Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor.
"TAT focuses on promoting Songkran for its cultural value as the traditional Thai New Year festival to local and international tourists by highlighting traditional activities, such as making merit, building a sand stupa, and pouring scented water onto a temple's sacred Buddha images," shares Kiatphaibool.
Recognizing its cultural significance, Songkran was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in December 2023.
The Tradition and Diversity of Songkran
The Songkran festival features unique practices, local cuisine, and age-old customs that reflect the country's rich heritage. According to Kiatphaibool, "Songkran is a festival that boasts the cultural diversity of Thailand."
TAT is putting in efforts to preserve the traditions of each region in Thailand and pass them down to future generations.
"For example, the North of Thailand introduces the 'Lanna Style' of paying respect to the elders. 'Phuk Xiao' tradition, a ceremony to dispel misfortune, is well-known for Songkran's northeast celebration. In Pattaya, Songkran is celebrated behind the other provinces and known as 'Lai Day,'" says Kiatphaibool.
TAT also encourages everyone to wear a traditional Thai floral shirt during the festival, a long-standing tradition in the country. TAT hopes to increase the recognition of this attire as a symbol of the Songkran festival.
The Sustainability Challenge
While every region has its unique way of celebrating Songkran, one common factor unites them all – water.
"Pouring water is significant during Songkran, symbolizing cleansing, reverence, and good fortune. The values of respect and merit-making, central to Thai Buddhism, also reinforce the importance of family ties and intergenerational bonds within Thai society," says Kiatphaibool. "The water splashing is a playful and joyous expression of the Thai people's easygoing and fun-loving nature," she adds.
However, the environmental repercussions of these festivities are important to consider, especially with the extension from the traditional three days to a three-week-long celebration from April 1 to 21.
The extended celebration aims to present a grand event dubbed 'World Water Festival – The Songkran Phenomenon.' The goal is to create a world-class event celebrated across all 77 provinces in Thailand.
However, the amplified scale of the festivities brings forth environmental concerns, such as excessive water consumption and plastic waste generation.
This raises the question: How can we balance preserving this vibrant tradition while ensuring sustainability for the future?
The Positive Shift in Songkran Celebrations
Jayne MacDougall, Executive Director of the Phuket Hotels Association, who has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry in Thailand, provides unique insights into the evolution of Songkran celebration and its environmental impact over the years.
She highlights that, in the past, Songkran's afternoon festivities, known as 'water play', led to excessive water usage, heaps of plastic waste and other garbage, and numerous accidents.
"Many tourists, unaware of Songkran's cultural significance, joined street activities without understanding the traditions, leading to an exaggeration of the traditional water play," she shares.
"However, a positive shift has occurred within the hospitality industry. Over the past decade, hotels have become more conscientious about sustainability and safety during Songkran, preserving the festive spirit while incorporating sustainable practices."
MacDougall highlights several ways Songkran has evolved to incorporate sustainable practices:
Promoting Water Conservation Efforts: Communities have implemented measures such as limiting the duration of water-related activities. Hotels have opted for water-conscious pool activities, celebrating where the water already is, and reduced the use of open taps for spraying vehicles or passersby.
Implementing Plastic Reduction Initiatives: There has been a concerted effort to reduce single-use plastics. Hotels and local authorities promote reusable containers and biodegradable alternatives, minimizing plastic waste.
Embracing Cultural Heritage: Recently, there has been a renewed emphasis on preserving Songkran's cultural heritage. More people are celebrating the festival in the traditional way by using palm watering instead of water fights. Traditionally, people pour water over Buddha statues or the palms of elders. People also visit temples to pour water on the monks' hands and receive blessings from them. This helps to promote a deeper appreciation for Thai customs and significantly reduces water consumption.
Organizing Community Clean-Up Drives and Informational Campaigns about Safe Water Play Practices: Some parts of Phuket have integrated clean-up drives into the festivities, encouraging participants to maintain the cleanliness of public spaces and ensure the safety of both visitors and residents.
Promoting Eco-Friendly Practices: Efforts to promote responsible waste disposal, recycling, and environmental awareness are underway. These initiatives aim to mitigate the ecological impact of festival activities.
Photos by Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket
Hospitality and Travel Industry’s Role During Songkran
The hospitality and travel industry plays a significant role in promoting a sustainable Songkran. Hoteliers can integrate sustainability into their operations during the festival by striking a balance between providing a fun experience and being mindful of environmental impact.
"This year, our Environment Committee is proactively distributing guidelines to member hotels, emphasizing the dual importance of safety and sustainability during Songkran. Our focus is on preserving the cherished tradition of water sprinkling, symbolizing reverence for elders and respect for cultural heritage," says MacDougall.
Apart from promoting the significance of Songkran's history, hotels encourage guests to participate in ceremonies where they receive traditional sprinkling and blessings. "By sharing the cultural significance of these rituals, we aim to deepen guests' appreciation for the festival's roots."
For younger guests, the hotels prioritize engaging and sustainable activities, including carefully monitored water play around hotel pools.
"We emphasize activities that require minimal water wastage and thoughtful planning, such as using water guns with fixed containers for filling rather than unrestricted flow mechanisms."
Photos by Intercontinental Phuket Resort
Challenges Faced by Hotels
Implementing sustainable practices during Songkran presents several challenges. One of the foremost challenges lies in managing traditional water play activities and ensuring guests grasp the cultural significance behind them.
"Songkran often sees guests purchasing large water guns from street vendors and initiating water-based festivities at unsanctioned times. Within hotel premises, early commencement of water play can disrupt essential services like food service and potentially lead to hazardous situations," shares MacDougall.
She also shares that in tourist areas such as Phuket, visitors sometimes engage in risky behavior, like hurling containers of ice water at passing motorcyclists and pedestrians, contributing to heightened accident rates during this period. Moreover, the proliferation of single-use plastics exacerbates street garbage, posing environmental challenges.
Wolfgang Grimm, owner of Anana Ecological Resort Krabi and former president of Skal International Thailand, advocates for reducing water fights and transforming these battles into more graceful ceremonies. He believes this approach would be more appropriate to the event's historical significance. As a minimum requirement, he suggests the establishment of specific zones for water festivities.
Harmonizing Songkran Celebration and Conservation in Hotels
MacDougall emphasizes that hotels have a crucial role in organizing and executing Songkran festivities by leveraging their skilled personnel and organizational capabilities. By being well-versed in sustainability practices, hotels can curate activities that minimize resource strain, thereby reducing costs.
She adds that hotels serve as ambassadors for Thai culture and traditions, especially to international guests, and suggests various strategies to achieve this.
Offering Education and Awareness: Hotels can provide educational sessions for both adults and children, shedding light on the history and significance of Songkran. By sharing knowledge about the rituals and traditions linked with the festival, guests develop a deeper appreciation for Thai culture.
Guaranteeing Inclusive Celebrations: Embracing Thailand's reputation for inclusivity, hotels can ensure that all guests feel invited to partake in Songkran celebrations. This cultivates a sense of community and connection among guests, regardless of their cultural origins.
Organizing Cultural Demonstrations: Organizing cultural demonstrations and performances allows guests to witness authentic Thai customs firsthand. From traditional dance performances to water blessing ceremonies, these activities immerse guests in the richness of Thai culture.
Offering Culinary Experiences: Local traditional food is showcased during the festival, and hotels can offer cooking classes or themed dining experiences highlighting the variety of Thai culinary traditions, further enhancing guests' cultural knowledge.
Photos by Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort
