Thai authorities have threatened tourists with holidaymakers a large fine and a real prison term for spraying and pouring water. And even the military, police and city officials have already been dragged to the popular streets to calm down the vacationers.
Dousing with water – the main ritual of the Songkran Festival – Thai New Year. It will be celebrated from April 13 to 15. The main ritual of the holiday is pouring water. It symbolizes liberation from bad thoughts, washing away negativity and purification. With its help, locals spend the heat and meet the rainy season, which begins in late April.
However, Thailand still has strict anti-discrimination rules, and face masks are mandatory in most situations. The ban on splashing measures is partly due to the fact that tourists are unlikely to adhere to the mask regime when pouring water on each other. The Prime Minister of Thailand expressed concern over the national tradition and sent officials to raids on popular tourist destinations to remind tourists of the current ban.
What threatens tourists?
Anyone who violates current health safety rules can be fined 40,000 baht – the equivalent of almost 35,000 hryvnias – or sentenced to two years in prison. In exceptional cases, both measures may be applied. In addition, violators of the rules may face an additional fine of up to 20,000 baht – 17,000 hryvnias, according to the Law on Combating Infectious Diseases.
It is clarified that some elements of traditional celebrations can be used in accordance with strict protocols. However, where mass events are allowed, there will be no frothy parties, no sale or consumption of alcohol.
However, recent videos and photos on social media from the holiday have shown that tourists ignore the official order or do not know about it. In this regard, travel officials, police and troops were sent to hotspots, including the resort island of Phuket, to report security restrictions on the spot, seize water pistols and identify tourists with signs of coronavirus. So far, local media have not reported on fines and imprisonment.