Chiang Mai’s Bus Arcade Bus Terminal began seeing increased foot traffic on the afternoon of 10th April, as the Songkran festival approaches.
Travellers heading home for the holiday mingled with tourists arriving to join the celebrations, though the terminal remained far from overwhelmed.
Passengers with luggage were seen queuing at ticket counters and waiting to board coaches, but the atmosphere stayed orderly. Ticket sales continued steadily throughout the day, and despite recent fuel price increases, fares have risen only modestly.
A ticketing officer at the terminal noted that sales were quieter than in previous years — partly due to economic conditions — though business was by no means slow, with a steady stream of passengers buying tickets to destinations across the country. Fares to the northeast and south have increased by around 20–30%, while tickets to nearby provinces remain unchanged.
Passenger numbers are expected to rise significantly from this evening through tomorrow and the following day or two, as the main wave of Songkran travel gets underway.
