The spokesperson said the scrapping of Coronation Day was logical as a new one would be designated to commemorate the crowning of King Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun. In place of the Coronation Day holiday, the government added two new ones.
The first on the 28 July celebrates the birthday of King Vajiralongkorn and the second on the 13 October remembers the day King Bhumibol passed away in 2016. Spokesperson Taksada Sangkachantr said the late king’s birthday on the 5 December would remain a national holiday.
Thailand has almost 30 public holidays a year. Even without Coronation Day there are still three in May. The 1 May is Labour Day, Visakha Bucha is on the 10 May and will be followed by Royal Ploughing Day just two days later.
The 12GO ASIA travel team explains that if the holiday falls over a weekend, the following Monday is counted as a replacement day and banks and government offices are closed. Public transport is usually busy on these long weekends too and advance bookings are recommended.
Thai government scraps 5 May Coronation Day public holiday
News in Asia
A spokesperson for the government of Thailand has announced that the 5 May is no longer a public holiday. The date marked the day in 1950 when the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej was crowned.