The four-day closure starts on the 30 December and ends on the 2 January. The 31 December and 1 January are public holidays. As New Year’s Eve falls on the Sunday this year, the day in lieu has been shifted to the 2 January to give Thai people an extended break.
12GO ASIA notes that the national shutdown does not apply to immigration checkpoints at airports and land crossings or bank branches located in shopping malls. These will be open for business as usual although some of the banking outlets might be shuttered up on New Year’s Day.
Airports, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and interprovincial bus operators say they are prepared for the expected surge in the number of passengers over the New Year. The SRT has added extra trains and carriages while the Airports of Thailand says staff will be working hard to ensure passengers are not delayed or inconvenienced.
Thailand to celebrate advent of 2018 with long public holiday
News in Asia
The government of Thailand has declared a four-day national holiday to celebrate the beginning of 2018. All government offices including provincial immigration offices plus post offices and the main branches of banks will be closed for the duration.