Foreign tourists celebrate festive season in Hat Yai

SONGKHLA, Dec 25 (TNA) - A large number of foreign tourists, especially Malaysians, are visiting the shopping area in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district on Christmas Day. Lively atmosphere is seen in Hat Yai as business entrepreneurs are optimistic that more tourists will come during the New Year holidays. They have decorated shops with large Christmas trees. Surapol Kampalanonwat, president of Songkhla’s Tourism Business Association said he projected that at least 300 million baht would be circulating in Hat Yai during the annual festive season. Meanwhile, officials in uniform and in plain clothes are patrolling the areas to provide security and build confidence among the tourists. Tourist attractions in the southern province of Krabi are crowded with tourists especially from Scandinavia and Europe, who are celebrating Christmas. Hotel and restaurant operators at the Hat Nopparat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi Marine National Park are seen busy in decorating their business premises with colourful lights and Christmas trees. Apichai Aranyig, director of Tourism Authority of Thailand Krabi office, said advance booking for hotels and bungalows in the province is at 80 – 90 per cent out of the total 18,000 rooms during the Christmas to the upcoming New Year. Hotel occupancy rate is almost the same as that of last year. He projects that about 700 million baht would circulate between December 31 and January 3 in the province. (TNA)