English
Malaysia stimulates tourism rebound
Tourism operators in Betong and Hat Yai are banking on cross-border tourism from Malaysia to shore up the local economy, while encouraging a more seamless immigration process to facilitate the flow of tourists.
Narin Ruengwongsa, vice-president of the Betong Tourism Association, said the number of tourists from Malaysia significantly increased after the Thailand Pass scheme was dropped on July 1, particularly during this week, which is a long holiday for both Malaysian and Thai tourists.
He said 30 hotels offering 2,000 rooms in Betong were fully booked since July 10, which falls during the Eid al-Adha holiday, which marks the end of the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca.
Malaysian travellers planned long weekends between July 10-14, said Mr Narin.
The occupancy rate for July is expected to reach 70% from around 50% last month as Betong welcomed more Malaysian travellers during weekends, while more locals arrived on weekdays, he said.
However, congestion at the Betong border checkpoint has become a key concern as there are only two available booths and tourists have to leave the bus for the immigration process.
“Tourists face two hours of immigration processing despite Thailand Pass being scrapped,” said Mr Narin.
“More staff and booths should be urgently added to facilitate tourists.”
As of July 9, the Malaysian market was the leading source market for arrivals with 265,759 travellers, followed by India (260,410), Singapore (144,414), the UK (132,186) and the US (117,335), according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
From July 1-9, the country welcomed 54,917 Malaysian tourists by land, which ranked No.1, while another 17,475 Malaysians travelled by air.
Teerapol Chotichanapibal, Nok Air chief commercial officer, said its Betong route reported a load factor of more than 80% as tour operators offered packages combining land transport to Hat Yai with one-way flights to Betong.
He said independent tourists mostly booked round-trip flights.
The airline plans to monitor demand from Malaysian tourists who want to fly from Betong to Bangkok after July 1.
Hat Yai welcomed more Malaysian travellers this month, thanks to the cancellation of Thailand Pass, while one-way tour buses from Malaysia are allowed to run within the province, with 50 buses per day reported on weekends, said Kamon Suttiwannopat, president of the Songkhla Tourism Association.
Around 50 hotels with 10,000 rooms in Hat Yai should post 20% occupancy in July from 10% during the first half as demand from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia gradually improve, said Mr Kamon.
He said Hat Yai can expect a tourism rebound during Malaysia’s National Day on Aug 31 as hotels might be fully booked from Aug 30 to Sept 1.
Mr Kamon said rising oil prices will not affect Malaysian tourists who travel by car because petrol prices there are cheaper than Thailand, at around 16 baht per litre.
Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2347368/malaysia-stimulates-tourism-rebound