Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand Southern Office Region 4, covering Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi, Suvalai Pinpradub said yesterday that Phuket would host "Songkran: The Water Festival on the Beach" and "Phuket Bike Week 2007" to celebrate Songkran festival.

Highlights of the event include a Miss Songkran International 2007 that will allow foreigners to join the contest. Tourists will enjoy "Midnight Songkran" on the beach from 7pm until midnight and also other traditional Thai cultural events.

"We want both foreigners and Thai tourists to splash water on the beach to reduce traffic jams," she said.

The Big Bike event is forecast to draw more than 2,500 bikes from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the US and Europe. In addition, Big Bike riders from Middle East countries like Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Japan, who have never been to Thailand, will join the activities.

A big concert will be arranged to celebrate the 120-year relationship between Thailand and Japan. Japanese popular singer Yamabuki Minato will join the show in Phuket. Members of her 100 fan clubs in Japan will follow her to watch the special concert.

Suvalai said the event is expected to generate Bt800 million in foreign exchange income.

So far, 90 per cent of hotel rooms in Phuket and Phang Nga have been booked.

Meanwhile, the Hat Yai-Songkhla Hotel Association reported that Malaysian and Singaporean tourists have already booked hotel rooms for the festival.

"Some hotels have been fully booked, mainly by tourists from Singapore and Malaysia," said association president Somchart Pimthanapoonporn.

He added that the association forecast that tourists in the province will spend a total of Bt200 million during the festival. A highlight of the activities is a major concert inviting Malaysian popular singers to join with Thai singers. Somchart added that the province has already prepared security measures to ensure safety for the travellers.