As the year-end holiday season approaches, approximately 500,000 Malaysians are expected to travel to Thailand, with Hat Yai becoming a popular destination.
Surge in Malaysian Tourists
According to Kosmo!, President of Thailand-ASEAN Halal Trade and Tourism Association (TAHTA), Aida Oujeh anticipates that southern Thailand will welcome over 230,000 Malaysian tourists between December 21 and 31.
Hat Yai’s hotels are reportedly fully booked, primarily by Malaysian visitors.
Hotels in key tourist areas like Hat Yai are fully booked, primarily by Malaysians. During the Christmas and New Year holidays, 30,000 accommodation rooms in Hat Yai and Songkhla were reserved,” Aida told the Malay daily.
She estimates that Malaysian tourists spend at least RM600 each while in Thailand.
Other tourist hotspots, including Sea Verse, Khlong Hae Floating Market, and ASEAN Night Bazaar, were similarly bustling with Malaysian visitors.
The situation has improved, with no disruptions to key tourist areas, allowing tourism activities to thrive,” she further added.
Consistent Travel Trends
Statistics indicate that Malaysians favor Thailand as a travel destination.
In 2023, Malaysians topped the list of foreign visitors to Thailand, with over 4.62 million entries.
In the first 11 months of this year alone, 4.5 million Malaysians have already visited Thailand.
