BANGKOK – Visitors from Malaysia to Hatyai, the vibrant southern Thai city, doubled to 20,000 daily during the Christmas and year-end holiday season, contributing 10 billion baht (RM1.33 billion) to the local economy during the week.
Hatyai Songkhla Hotels’ Association president, Sitthipong Sitthiphataraprabha, said Hatyai’s irresistible appeal lies in its combination of delectable and diverse food choices, easy accessibility and affordable hotel options.
He said Hatyai has firmly established itself as a favoured destination for travel enthusiasts seeking a delightful and budget-friendly getaway.
On ordinary weekdays throughout the year, he said Hatyai typically enjoys a steady flow of around 5,000 Malaysian visitors daily, doubling to nearly 10,000 on weekends.
“Hatyai experiences a joyous surge in visitor numbers from Malaysia during the year-end holiday season. On peak season weekends (Christmas and New Year), Hatyai welcomes an average of 20,000 Malaysians daily, while weekdays see around 10,000 visitors.
“During the festive cheer of Christmas and New Year, Malaysian tourists’ average spending per trip per person reaches 10,000 baht.
“As a result, Malaysian tourists are estimated to have contributed approximately 10 billion baht to the Hatyai economy this Christmas and New Year celebration,” he said.
Sitthipong also noted that Hatyai hotels have witnessed an unprecedented surge in demand, with the city’s downtown, a popular area for Malaysian tourists, fully booked during peak holiday weeks.
He said Hatyai currently boasts around 20,000 rooms, including 8,000 to 12,000 concentrated in the downtown area.
Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry said the country welcomed 27.25 million tourists in 2023 – with Malaysian tourists topping the list with 4.43 million, followed by visitors from China (3.41 million), South Korea (1.6 million), India (1.58 million) and Russia (1.42 million). – January 1, 2024