Phuket celebrates 200 years of Vegetarian Festival – tourism is booming!

Phuket celebrates 200 years of Vegetarian Festival – tourism is booming!

The 2025 Thailand Vegetarian Festival is just around the corner and promises to be a spectacular event for all participants. Loud TrueID The festival will take place from October 20th to 29th and attracts not only locals but also numerous tourists. Tourism Authority Governor Nangsao Thapani Kiatpaiboon has exceptional expectations for visitor numbers in Phuket and Songkhla provinces.

Phuket is expected to see a 43% increase in visitor numbers. A total of 198,239 guests are expected here, which should lead to estimated revenue of around 2,339 million baht. This represents an impressive increase of 44% compared to the previous year. Songkhla is holding the festival under the theme "Power of Faith to a Great Tradition" and is expecting 184,470 visitors, which is expected to generate revenue of about 1,765 million baht.

Cultural heritage and economic drive

This year's festival has a special occasion: Phuket celebrates its 200th anniversary of the vegetarian festival under the theme “2 Centuries of Faith - Phuket Jae Chai”. Such cultural events not only bring tourists to the region, they also promote the local market. UTCC highlights that the festival is seen as an economic boost for Thailand's tourism sector ahead of the peak season this year.

An interesting aspect of the festival is the survey conducted by the Center for Economic Forecasting at Thammasat University, which analyzed participants' spending. Although 66% of respondents did not observe a vegetarian fast, 34% said they did so — often out of a desire to do good or to enjoy free food at temples. With an average spending of 5,211 baht per person during the festival, the amount of money circulating over the course of the festival is estimated to be around 45.9 billion baht.

Positive outlook despite economic challenges

The travel world is being watched, and Thailand continues to prove itself as one of the top travel destinations worldwide, as Statista reported. Bangkok in particular attracts many tourists who want to experience the city's colorful nightlife and cultural attractions. With total revenue from the tourism sector exceeding 172 billion baht in December 2024 and a steady increase in international arrivals, the country shows that it is on the right track to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expectations for the 2025 Phuket and Songkhla Vegetarian Festival are higher than ever. The increasing number of visitors and the associated economic stimulus are a sign of hope and the revival of all that Thailand has to offer in the field of tourism. The exciting program attracts tourists from nearby markets such as Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia - a good opportunity for anyone interested in Thai culture while enjoying its culinary delights.

With an average occupancy rate of 81% in Phuket and 75% in Songkhla, the signs are optimistic. As Phuket gradually returns to its cultural heritage, the festival once again demonstrates the importance of tourism to the entire national economy. The continued focus on promoting domestic consumption and empowering local communities promises a fruitful end to the year for Thai gastronomy and hospitality.