Hat Yai hotels fully booked during New Year holidays

SONGKHLA, December 16 (TNA) - More than 12,000 rooms at all standard hotels in the southern district of Hat Yai, known as shopping paradise among tourists, are now fully booked, as X’Mas and New Year celebrations are drawing near, said SomchatPimtanapoonporn, president of Tourism Council of Songkhla. He said tourism atmosphere in Hat Yai, near the Thai-Malaysian border, has been bullish since the beginning of this month, as Malaysian and Singaporean tourists have arrived by either buses or their sedans. Shopping malls and hotels are now packed with tourists from the two countries, while reservation for hotel rooms during the New Year’s celebrations are now fully booked, Mr. Somchat said. Foreign tourists are still impressed with activities organized during festive season in the past years, he said, adding that several agencies are again organising New Year’s celebrations this year called the ‘Night Paradise Hat Yai Countdown to 2013’ on December 30 and 31. The event will be held around a shopping area in Hat Yai. (TNA)