Koh Samui’s Quaint Children Festival

The Children's Festival in Koh Samui occurs in January every year

Thailand, like most cultures, hold special festivals focused on children, occasions which can best be experienced in one of the country’s top tourist destination Koh Samui. This tourism jewel is located at the Gulf of Thailand, off the country’s east coast. Rightly so, local authorities have made a children’s festival among the Koh Samui attractions, providing additional promotional platform for popular travel facilities like the ShaSa Resort, a preferred destination in the southern end of the island.

For local and foreign tourists alike, it is endearing to witness or be a part of this quaint celebration traditionally held each January. Some local institutions also hold similar celebrations of their own at different times of the year. One thing for sure, there’s unity in the purpose of these events to focus on the importance of inculcating positive values in the minds of children as future leaders in succeeding generations.

Prismatic festival dimension

As to be expected, the children of Koh Samui look forward to this annual event. It is, after all, their day and their chance to be the centre of attention. To their credit, travel and tour operators too have recognised the importance of this celebration and have actively promoted the festival as a come-on for tourists to visit the island. By doing so, a new dimension that is international and character is lent to the festivity in honour of children. On the same breadth, the festival is also a chance for the Thai children to showcase their culture, dressed as they are in traditional garb for this occasion.

Kids with their visiting parents can partake of the various family-oriented activities, which can be enjoyed during the festival. What’s in store for them is a day-long fun of games and entertainment purposively organized not only for camaraderie but also bringing out the talents of children. Hence, the program of activities can include singing and art competitions as well as dancing contests. Social interaction is also fostered through gift-giving and special treats.

Discount privileges are also extended to children, particularly on food, drinks, and entertainment, such as boat rides.

Advocacy for sustainable tourism

It is quite commendable too that some institutions have injected advocacy on the children’s festival lately. One example is the inclusion of environment-consciousness in the celebration organised by the International School of Samui. The event, besides its associated festivities, featured lectures, scientific experiments, and film presentations on the value of preserving the island’s water environment, a pursuit that should help make tourism sustainable for Koh Samui for the benefit of future generations.