Malaysian visitors add RM267mil to Hatyai economy during festive season

 

Hatyai is now a favourite destination for a budget-friendly getaway, says Hatyai Songkhla Hotel Association president Sitthipong Sitthiphataraprabha. (Facebook pic)

BANGKOK: Malaysian visitors to Hatyai in southern Thailand doubled to 20,000 daily during the Christmas and year-end holiday season, contributing more than two billion baht (about RM267 million) to the local economy in the two weeks before the year ended.

Hatyai Songkhla Hotel Association president Sitthipong Sitthiphataraprabha said the city’s appeal lies in its combination of shopping, Thai cuisine, easy accessibility, and affordable hotel accommodation.

He said Hatyai has firmly established itself as a favoured destination for travel enthusiasts seeking a budget-friendly getaway.

Sitthipong said about 5,000 Malaysians visit Hatyai on “normal” weekdays, and 10,000 on weekends.

He estimated that the average spending of each Malaysian visitor is 10,000 baht (about RM1,300).

“As a result, Malaysian tourists are estimated to have contributed approximately two billion baht to the Hatyai economy during the Christmas and New Year celebration,” he said. - FMT