Thousands of dancers performed at a Buddhist landmark hoping to draw in more tourists to Thailand.

Footage shows villagers in traditional getup swaying to folk music as during a festival at the Phutthamonthon Isan statue in Khon Kaen province on January 9.

Pairat Taweewan, mayor of the Sila Municipality, said the festival was held to promote the area as a tourist destination and to educate visitors about Buddhism.

He said: 'We aim to promote tourism to stimulate the economy and generate revenue for the residents. At the same time, we want to make it a place for children, the youth, and other locals to learn about Buddhism.'

Aside from watching Thai dances, visitors can also participate in various activities like making trays, flower garlands, and traditional cuisine. There will also be entertaining competitions such as beauty pageants, and flower and crop judging contests.

The festival will last until January 15.

The Phutthamonthon Isan statue was built by the local government on directives from the Sangha Supreme Council of Thailand, the country's governing body of the Buddhist order, to establish Buddhist paks in various regions.

It was built in 2006 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of King Rama IX's ascension to the throne.

Thailand's tourism sector is a major economic driver. The country attracts millions of visitors annually for its diverse offerings, including ancient temples, world-class cuisine, and adventure tourism activities such as trekking and diving.