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The largest island in Thailand, the most populous and the most popular one- Phuket is a major watershed in the tourism industry of Thailand. And festivals and events in Phuket are more than you can even think of. In this cosmopolitan island there are festivals for every faith, every religion every race, and every kind of tourist for that matter. The turtle releasing festival in Phuket is a part of the Thai New Year celebrations. The Government of Thailand has christened this festival as National Fisheries Day. The festivities include releasing of turtles into the sea at beaches in the north of the island. The main beaches where animals are released include Bang Tao, Nai Yang and Mai Khao. The turtle releasing festival is not an independent festival but a continuation of the Thai New Year festivities. The gesture of releasing turtles into the sea though observed as a traditional rite, has assumed newer and in a way more meaningful connotation in these days when this marine species is rapidly disappearing from the face of the earth thanks to the merciless and insatiable needs of us humans. More so in a beach resort flocked by tourists round the year- because a beach resort these days have become synonymous to seafood. The Thai New Year like in all other communities come with great pomp and excitement including the introduction of special facilities and arrangements on part of the tourism department, hotels, restaurants and travel agents.
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