This Songkran comes with a discount — and not the kind anyone wanted. But at least the Army's having fun, and NASA just reminded us that humans can still do extraordinary things.
The Budget Songkran
A UTCC survey forecasts 129.6 billion baht in Songkran spending this year, down 3.7% from last year and the lowest in four years, according to Nation Thailand. Higher fuel costs are making consumers more cautious about every baht, from travel to dining to the water guns themselves.
Transport Co has responded pragmatically, readying extra buses while keeping fares unchanged despite higher fuel costs, as reported by Nation Thailand. State-run operators expect passenger numbers to rise 10% during the April 9-19 rush, proving that Thais will find a way home for the holiday regardless of what diesel costs.
Centara Hotels and OR (PTT's retail arm) are launching budget hotels targeting the road-trip market, with an initial investment of 700 million baht, according to Bangkok Post. The timing is shrewd — when flying becomes expensive, driving holidays fill the gap.
The Army's Recruitment Goes Viral
In possibly the most unexpected story of the week, the Royal Thai Army's recruitment campaign has gone massively viral, according to Nation Thailand. With what the article describes as "border-patrol rizz" and self-deprecating humor, the campaign has smashed all recruitment expectations.
Thai youth apparently swapping romance for regiments — driven partly by the campaign's tone, which reads like it was written by someone who actually uses social media rather than someone who heard about it in a meeting.
Meanwhile, in Space
NASA launched four astronauts on the Artemis II mission, the first crewed journey around the Moon since 1972, according to Nation Thailand. It's the kind of story that reminds you the world is capable of more than crisis management — though the contrast with earth-bound problems couldn't be sharper.
Source: Nation Thailand, Bangkok Post
