#LoyKrathong Festival in #Thailand and why it should be BANNED. This weekend sees the spectacular event known as Loy Krathong Festival. It usually marks the beginning of the peak tourism period for the country, especially in the northern region.
In previous years tourism authorities expect the influx of tourists to bring massive tourism-related income expecting the revenue to be in the range of 20 billion baht.
Loy Krathong, which this year falls on Saturday, is one of the most popular festivals for Thai and tourists alike.
It is widely celebrated in Bangkok and tourist provinces in the Central Plains from Ayutthaya to the North. Revelers release lotus-shaped floats into the sea, rivers and waterways.
But the festival, which has been extensively transformed, also poses a dilemma with regard to environmental and social changes.
It was initially created by people in rural areas as a way to pay respects to the River, or Water, Gods.
Now there are rising concerns that the festival may no longer be relevant to urban areas.
One problem with Loy Krathong involves an enormous amount of waste from the floats that clog waterways.
Because unless removed quickly will pollute other important water sources.
Another, more serious issue, is air traffic safety with regard to sky lanterns which are popular in the North.
Airports
Airport authorities in major tourist provinces have stepped up measures to regulate the use of sky lanterns. Especially in areas near airports.
A disaster could take place should a lantern get stuck in an aircraft's engine.
The problem is that the popular-yet-dangerous lanterns are themselves are a magnet for tourism.
And in Thailand money is more important than tourist safety.
As part of one compromise, Chiang Mai airport authorities this year decided to change flight times.
Or cancel flights altogether from Wednesday to Friday during the peak lantern frenzy.
Nearly 150 flights, both domestic and international, will be affected, they said.
In total, 60 domestic and international flights are to be cancelled, said the Chiang Mai airport authorities. Every year they promise strict surveillance measures.
Unlike the Khon Kaen airport authorities who seek to ban the lanterns within a 14km radius of the airport at all times.
However, Chiang Mai officers fail to mention how they will regulate lantern lighting.
The Chiang Mai officers should be aware that their compromise can be costly. And that surveillance cannot offer a 100% guarantee that the lanterns will be kept away from air traffic.
Last year, despite surveillance and other measures, the remnants of over 100 burned lanterns intruded on Chiang Mai airport.
The number may be satisfactory compared to the figures in 2013. Then more than 1,420 burned lanterns were found on the airport premises during the festival.
But it is undeniable that the risk remains high, not only for air traffic but also for public safety.
Because remnants of burning lanterns can wreak havoc on communities if they fall on properties and cause fires.
The strict measures anger people in the tourism industry.
Because they want to attract visitors at all costs and don't care about people's safety.
It's not Thai Culture, just a draw for tourists
It must be noted that sky lanterns, though part of northern tradition, never belonged to the festival until a decade ago.
That's when local tourism authorities incorporated the festival into local calendars to attract more tourists.
According to old lanna tradition, the lanterns which are called wao-hom in local dialect, are lit shortly before noon. As part of individual celebrations.
During the Loy Krathong festival several hundred thousand lanterns may be released into the sky.
More importantly, by tradition, the lanterns are lit in vast, empty fields away from communities. Like other tourist cities, Chiang Mai is fully developed and there is no such empty area.
It's not just the lanterns that are non-traditional Loy Krathong items. Even the flowered floats are relatively new to the celebration.
According to studies, the floats were introduced to the northern city in 1947. And they became so popular that the festival has been adopted into Chiang Mai culture.
Public education is necessary to make people realise the risk of sky lanterns.
The government should step up efforts to raise social awareness so revellers will celebrate the festival responsibly.
At the same time, the authorities must review all measures involving the beautiful but risky lanterns. If only to ensure that public safety is observed.
When it comes to safety, there should be no compromise.
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