Bangkok, Thailand, January 2, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), together with ICONSIAM and other organizations, associations, and businesses along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, transformed the New Year's countdown into a special celebration. The "Amazing Thailand Countdown 2021 – Celebrating the Radiant Spirit of Thailand," held on New Year's Eve at ICONSIAM's River Park, was Thailand's most spectacular New Year's celebration. While the concert and traditional countdown were canceled, the festivities continued with an impressive fireworks display featuring 25,000 environmentally friendly fireworks made from sticky rice in Japan, illuminating the sky above the 1,400-meter stretch of the Chao Phraya River. The spectacular fireworks served as a message of hope for Thailand and the world, urging everyone to welcome the new year and overcome the crisis with strength and courage.

While the country and the world celebrated virtually together via live broadcast and live stream, the “Amazing Thailand Countdown 2021” at ICONSIAM once again marked an iconic national countdown event, underscoring that the Chao Phraya River is not only a major tourist attraction for Bangkok and Thailand, but also a global countdown destination. The festivities took place in strict compliance with the guidelines of the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

“Even though concerts and events have been cancelled, the spirit of Thailand lives on,” said Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. “To best ensure the health and safety of Thais and to help contain the spread of Covid-19, we have adapted the ‘Amazing Thailand Countdown 2021’ celebration in accordance with CCSA guidelines. We have decided to hold the traditional fireworks display to symbolize our hope for better times and to send our love and best wishes to everyone around the world during this difficult time.”

Mr. Supoj Chaiwatsirikul, Managing Director of ICONSIAM Company Limited, stated: “ICONSIAM is following CCAS guidelines and has cancelled all concerts. However, the New Year's spirit lives on: Over 25,000 environmentally friendly fireworks illuminated the Chao Phraya River for a length of over 1,400 meters. The fireworks display, themed ‘The Wonders of Happiness on the River,’ comprised seven acts and symbolized hope, faith, prosperity, and happiness. It also aimed to express Thailand's support for people worldwide, enabling them to overcome the crisis and emerge stronger and more courageous into the new year. The celebrations also played a vital role in supporting hundreds of tourism businesses along the Chao Phraya River, as well as the people who work in this sector and their families.”

The eco-friendly fireworks display, held over the river to celebrate the New Year, consisted of seven acts under the theme "The Wonders of Happiness on the River." It symbolized hope, faith, prosperity, and good fortune, and expressed Thailand's support for people worldwide, helping them overcome the crisis and enter the new year with strength and courage. Each act had an auspicious meaning:

Act 1: Great Hopes: The first fireworks display illuminating the dark sky symbolizes the light at the end of the tunnel and encourages people to keep going and lead a bright life.

Act 2: Faith in the Future: The diverse fireworks rise ceaselessly into the sky, creating magnificent beams of light that symbolize faith, confidence, and determination to pave the way for the realization of dreams.

Act 3: Radiant Life: The firework in the shape of a large heart symbolizes a health-conscious life, representing for everyone the principle of living a life of mental and physical strength.

Act 4: Beautiful World: The colorful, flower-like fireworks symbolize optimism and allow you to add a little more joy to your everyday life and serve as a driving force for a positive life.

Act 5: Flourishing Prosperity: The bright green beams of light represent fertility, while the golden shower of fireworks symbolizes fame and prosperity. The fireworks bathe the sky and the river in two colors, thus symbolizing Thailand's prosperity in every respect.

Act 6: Togetherness: A swarm of small and large fireworks in shades of red rises into the sky, symbolizing unity and the integration of mind and body to create a better world and a bright future.

Act 7: Best Beginning: Long, sustained fireworks illuminate the sky, the land, and the river, symbolizing the inspiring start of a great new year, the strength of relations with other countries, the return of tourists, and the success and happiness of Thailand and all countries in the new year.

World-renowned Japanese fireworks specialist Oguchi Yoshimasa, creator of the eco-friendly fireworks display, explained the design elements: “This year, the main components of the fireworks are Thai and Japanese sticky rice. The use of sticky rice, a natural ingredient that produces very little smoke, is a more environmentally friendly option and part of a Japanese pyrotechnic tradition passed down for over 80 years. The highlight of the experience will be the spectacular fireworks in the seventh act,” he noted. “It’s like Niagara Falls over the Chao Phraya River—a hopeful and bold start to a great new year,” said Mr. Oguchi.

ICONSIAM strictly adheres to CCSA guidelines regarding maximum social distancing and health and safety measures to ensure the greatest possible safety for its partners, tenants, customers, and employees. This year, the entire country celebrated together virtually on December 31, 2020, via live broadcast on MCOT HD 30, Thairath TV 32 HD, and via livestream on the Facebook pages of ICONSIAM, Thairath Online, Khaosod Facebook, and True ID.