Tourism in Thai North active, floods receding in Thai South

THAI NORTH, SOUTH, December 29 (TNA) - The tourism atmosphere in the Thai North and some areas in the Thai South are now active for New Year celebrations among international tourists, while inundations in several southern areas, including those of popular tourist destinations, have been relieving. In the northern Nan Province, a large number of both Thai and foreign tourists have visited various provincial attractions, especially an ancient salt well situated in a village heart amid peaceful nature and the seasonal cold weather in Bo Klua District. The ancient salt well, the world's solely mountain salt production source, has daily attracted over 2,000 international visitors for the time being, as several visitors buy salt packs as souvenirs for their families and friends. In the Phitsanulok Province in the Lower Thai North, the Phra Srirattana Mahathat Woramahaviharn Temple has also been packed with international tourists, mostly locals who have visited the main provincial temple as a stopover to worship the provincial famous Buddha image for their New Year blessings en route to their hometowns in other northern and northeastern areas. In the southern Songkhla Province, a number of international tourists, particularly those from neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore, have visited provincial attractions, including Samila Beach and Hat Yai, Thailand's southern business hub. The Ministry of Interior has, in the meantime, ordered local authorities to conduct quick surveys on affected local people and damaged areas for immediate assistance and rehabiliations, as ongoing two-week floods in affected zones of eight southern provinces have been receding. The eight provinces include Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phattalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Trang, with the easing flooding situation seen in the affected areas in Narathiwat, Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani and Phattalung, while low-lying areas in Pattani Province have remained inundated. Several flood-affected areas in the southern region are international tourist destinations. (TNA)