Thai Tourism booming for Hari Raya, end of Buddhist Lent events

BANGKOK, October 14 (TNA) - The domestic tourism is booming in several Thai areas where activities are organized to mark the annual Hari Raya and the end of the three-month Buddhist Lent. Somchart Pimthanapoonporn, President of the Hat Yai-Songkhla Hotel Association, told reporters on Monday that tourism is booming in Thailand's southern Songkhla province, thanks to the upcoming Hari Raya holiday on October 15. Somchart acknowledged that international tourists, including those from neighbouring Malaysian and Singapore, are booking hotel rooms in Hat Yai, Thailand's business hub in Songkhla, as they are enjoying their long holidays. There are more than 15,000 hotel rooms in Hat Yai alone. Somchart said the international tourists appear to be confident in intensified security measures, as local security authorities are joining forces with business operators to ensure order. Domestic tourism is also booming in the northeastern Nongkhai province, where locals in the Phon Phisai Municipality are improving landscapes of their locality to welcome crowds of international visitors to join in activities marking the end of the three-month Buddhist Lent and the annual miracle of Naga fireball phenomenon in the Mekong River, this year set on October 19. In Nakhon Phanom province, also in the Thai Northeast, the annual illuminated boat festival continues to attract a large number of visitors. This year's festival is set from October 12-20, when an illuminated boat is on display each night together with the release of about 10,000 floating lanterns in the Mekong River. Local hotels have been fully reserved in advance although room rates there have soared from 500-800 baht per night to 3,000-5,000 baht per night. (TNA)