Hat Yai to carry on tourism activities

BANGKOK, April 16 (TNA) - Hat Yai-Songkhla Hotel Business Association President Somchart Pimtanapoonporn said on Monday that his association will carry on tourism activities, in the wake of the traditional Thai New Year or Songkran Festival 2012. Somchart told reporters that his association has cooperated with local business and tourism operators in organizing continual activities, namely launching hefty discounts of goods and services for five consecutive weeks, starting from April 16, in Hat Yai to draw international tourist arrivals. Somchart revealed that he also plans to conduct road shows in neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore soon, aimed at building confidence among international visitors to Hat Yai, considered one of regional shopping paradises. Although a car bomb incident at the deluxe Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel in Hat Yai on March 31, hotels in the southern Thai business hub were almost fully booked by the international tourists during the Thai traditional New Year. About 90 per cent of hotel rooms in Hat Yai were booked by Malaysian and Singaporean tourists alone during this year's Songkran Festival although the car bombing attack took place only two weeks ago. Songkhla Governor Krisada Boonraj, meanwhile, acknowledged that the first round of financial assistance has been given to shop owners whose properties were damaged by the car bombing; while the second round will be handed out on April 16-17 and the final round within three months. The Thai government has approved 25 per cent compensation of total damages declared by the affected shop owners, after an official assessment by a government committee. According to official statistics, three people, including a Malaysian tourist, were killed and more than 400 were wounded at the hotel in the March 31 car bombing attack. (TNA)