SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACT OF SONGKRAN FESTIVAL

 SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACT OF SONGKRAN FESTIVAL 1
Socio-cultural Impact of Songkran Festival
[Name of Writer]
[Name of Institution]
[Name of Supervisor]
SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACT OF SONGKRAN FESTIVAL 2
Abstract
Cultural events and festivals have dire consequences on the societies of host cities and countries.
These events and festivals play a decisive role in the social, cultural and economic aspects of the
society. Songkran festival is a religious and cultural festival of Thailand which occurs in the
month of April in Bangkok every year. This paper aims to explore the socio-cultural impact of
Songkran festival of the city of Bangkok in particular and on Thailand in general.
For this purpose this research study conducted a qualitative research in which primary data was
collected by using semi-structured interviews of fifteen participants within the age bracket of 22-
28 years who came to Bangkok to attend Songkran festival.
This study concluded that Songkran festival has significant and direct social, cultural and
economic impact on the society of Bangkok and it helps to project a positive cultural image of
Thailand among the foreign tourists. However, it has also been found that this festival has some
negative impacts too which include Crimes, sexual harassment, excessive use of alcohol,
increased road accidents, increased traffic congestion, lot of waste etc. In order to disseminate
the positive image of the city and society, the government must formulate strategies to reduce
these negative impacts. 
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Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction ........................................................................5
1.1 Background to the Study.....................................................................................................................5
1.1.1 Songkran Festival..................................................................................................................7
1.1.2 Impacts of Songkran Festival................................................................................................8
1.2 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................................... 10
1.3 Rationale of the Study................................................................................................................. 10
1.4 Objectives of the Study..................................................................................................................... 10
1.5 Research Questions........................................................................................................................... 10
1.6Assumptions....................................................................................................................................... 11
1.6 Structure of the Dissertation ............................................................................................................. 11
Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................13
2.1 Definition of Event ........................................................................................................................... 13
2.2 Type of Events.................................................................................................................................. 14
2.2.1 Festivals ..................................................................................................................................... 16
2.2.2 Hallmark Events......................................................................................................................... 17
2.3 Event Effects..................................................................................................................................... 17
2.3.1 Macroeconomic effects in the short and long term.................................................................... 17
2.3.2 Tangible and intangible effects.................................................................................................. 18
2.3.3 Cost ............................................................................................................................................ 19
2.3.4 Image and Reputation Effect...................................................................................................... 20
2.4 Event impacts.................................................................................................................................... 21
2.4.1 Economic impacts...................................................................................................................... 23
2.4.2 Environmental impacts .............................................................................................................. 28
2.4.3 Socio-cultural Impacts .........................................................................................................