Thailand Celebrates Songkran with Cash
Apr 12, 2024
Preparations for the wet and wild Songkran Festival marking Thai New Year include the Bank of Thailand setting aside huge cash reserves, anticipating high demand as locals and tourists alike enjoy the extended holiday.
Pattaya Mail reports the central bank has anticipated withdrawals of between 30 and 35 billion baht (over $800 million). Commercial banks have laid in large cash reserves and distributed banknotes across major areas such as Bangkok, preparing for a rush on ATMs across the weekend and beyond.
The proactive measures by various banks for Songkran in 2024 underscore their commitment to accommodating the heightened demand for banknotes during significant events.
Cash will be used in a variety of ways, including gifting, the purchase of traditional foods such as khao chae (rice soaked in water, available in many varieties), and for tipping service workers supporting the festivities.
Tourists are advised to visit ATMs ahead of the main event—given, even with meticulous planning, they can quickly run empty—and carry plenty of small change to buy refills for the water pistols and super soakers used in the massive water fights that have marked the new year for the past few decades, with splashing water symbolising ‘cleansing, reverence and good fortune’.