Bangkok, Thailand, January 2, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), together with ICONSIAM and other agencies, associations and businesses along Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River turned the New Year countdown into a new-normal celebration. The ‘Amazing Thailand Countdown 2021’ – Celebrate the Shining Spirit of Thailand, staged on New Year’s Eve at ICONSIAM’s River Park, marked the most spectacular celebration of Thailand to ring in the New Year. The concert and traditional countdown were cancelled but the celebration spirit proceeded with dramatic display of 25,000 eco-friendly fireworks that were made in Japan from sticky rice, which lit up the sky along a 1,400-metre length of the Chao Phraya River. The spectacular firework is a message of hope for the country and the world to mark the arrival of the new year and to overcome the crisis with strength and courage.
As the country and the world virtually celebrated together through live broadcast and live streaming, The ‘Amazing Thailand Countdown 2021’ at ICONSIAM yet again marks the iconic national countdown landmark and emphasizes that the Chao Phraya River is not only a significant tourism attraction of Bangkok and Thailand but also a global countdown destination. The celebrations strictly complied with The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)’s guideline.
“While the concerts and gatherings have been cancelled, the spirit of Thailand shines on,” said Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, “For best health and safety of Thais and to minimize the curve of Covid-19, we have turned The ‘Amazing Thailand Countdown 2021’ into a new normal celebration, in accordance with CCSA’s guidelines. We decide to proceed with the iconic firework display, as a reminder of our hope for brighter days, and also extend our love and best wishes to everyone around the world in this tough period.
Mr. Supoj Chaiwatsirikul, Managing Director of ICONSIAM Company Limited, said, “ICONSIAM strictly follows CCAS’s guideline by cancelling all the concerts but the new year spirit remains with the stunning eco-friendly firework display, a magnificent display of over 25,000 eco-friendly fireworks that lit up along the Chao Phraya River spanning an area of over 1,400 meters. The firework will be displayed comprises of 7 acts under the concept “The Wonders of Happiness upon the River” to represent hope, faith, prosperity and happiness as well as to show support of Thailand to people all over the world to overcome the crisis and start the new year with strength and courage. The celebration also plays a key role in supporting hundreds of tourism businesses along the Chao Phraya River in this trying time, along with people related to the industries and their families.
The eco-friendly firework display that illuminated over the river for the New Year celebration comprises of 7 acts under the concept “The Wonders of Happiness upon the River” to represent hope, faith, prosperity and happiness as well as to show support of Thailand to people all over the world to overcome the crisis and start the new year with strength and courage. Each act signifies auspicious meaning as follows;
Act 1: Great Hopes: The first set of fireworks that will light up into the dark sky represent light at the end of the tunnel encouraging people to keep walking for a bright life.
Act 2: Believe in the Future: The diversity of fireworks constantly blasts up to the sky with delightful beams of light to signify belief, faith and determination to pave a way for making dream come true.
Act 3: Brilliant Life: The fireworks in a shape of big heart represent health-conscious life that is everyone’s principle of living to spend a life with both mental and physical strength.
Act 4: Beautiful World: The colorful flower-like fireworks symbolize optimism, allowing you to bring a little more joy to your everyday life as a driving force to achieve positive living.
Act 5: Blooming Prosperity: The glowing green beams of lights represent fertility while the golden showers of fireworks symbolize glory and prosperity. The fireworks radiate two colors of lights across the sky and upon the river to signify the prosperity of Thailand in every aspect.
Act 6: Be Together: The cluster of small and large fireworks in red shade burst into the sky to represent unity as well as mind-body integration to create the better world and the bright future.
Act 7: Best Beginning: Long constant bursts and dazzling explosions of fireworks glow across the sky and over the land and the river are the statements of the inspiring beginning to start off a great New Year, the strength of relationships with other countries as well as the start of welcoming back tourists and the New Year of Thailand and all countries to achieve success and happiness.
For the firework design elements, world-celebrated Japanese firework specialist Oguchi Yoshimasa, the creator of the environmentally-friendly firework said “This year, Thai and Japanese sticky rice are the main components of the fireworks. The use of glutinous rice, a natural ingredient which produces very small amount of smoke is a more environmentally-friendly option and is a Japanese heritage pyrotechnics that have been passed on for more than 80 years. The highlight of the experience will be the remarkable firework display of Act 7,” he noted. “It’s just like Niagara Falls over the Chao Phraya River, to start off a great New Year, with hope and courage. Mr Ogushi said.
The ICONSIAM strictly complies and implements maximum social distancing as well as health and safety measures in compliance with CCSA’s guideline, to ensure best safety for its alliances, tenants, customers and employees. This year the country together celebrated virtually via live broadcast at MCOT HD 30, Thairath TV 32 HD and via live-streamed at ICONSIAM Facebook, Thairath Online, Khaosod Facebook and True ID on December 31, 2020.