Over 150,000 tourists from neighboring countries spent the holidays in Southern Thailand during the last weeks of 2024, contributing over 1 billion Baht to the local economy.

Most of the visitors came from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

According to Hatyai-Songkhla Hotel Association president Sittipong Sitthipatrapha, Thailand remains a preferred destination for tourists from these three countries due to its diverse and attractive tourism offerings and affordable local cuisine.

Sitthipatrapha pointed out: “More than 30,000 hotel rooms have been fully booked by both domestic and international tourists in southern Thailand since December 25, particularly in Hat Yai and Songkhla.”

Highly Attractive

Popular tourist attractions in Songkhla province include Samila Beach, Songkhla Old Town, and the Khlong Hae Floating Market. In Pattani province, key attractions include the Clock Tower Roundabout and Lang Kwaeng Road.

Aside from these, those from neighboring countries opt to go to southern Thailand rather than to Bangkok or the northern provinces due to the proximity of entry points, exceptional cuisine, and affordable accommodations.

Just before the year ended, Thai minister of tourism and sports Sorawong Thienthong announced that 35 million international tourists visited Thailand between January 1 and December 29, generating over 1.66 trillion Baht in tourism revenue.

Chinese tourists topped the list with over 6.7 million arrivals, followed by Malaysians in second place with 4.9 million, India with 2.1 million, South Korea with 1.8 million, and Russia with 1.7 million.