SONGKHLA, April 16 – Buoyed by success beyond anticipated over the Thai new year Songkran festival, the president of the Tourism Business Federation of Songkhla today announced plans to hold a series of events to boost tourist confidence just two weeks after the industry received its worst tourism woes ever with the recent insurgency-related bombing.
Somchart Pimtanapoonporn said Hat Yai tourism at Songkran has been more successful than expected despite the bombing of the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel in the heart of the city two weeks ago.
Many tourists from Malaysia and Singapore were undaunted by the incident and flowed into Hat Yai municipality in large numbers with hotels registering a 80-90 per cent occupancy rate.
Mr Somchart said he believed the post-Songkran period would see more tourists coming to visit the city.
To lure shoppers and holidaymakers to the commercial and shopping district of the South, the city’s businesses and tourism sectors will kick off a five-week sales campaign to boost tourism, he said. Furthermore, roadshows will be held in Malaysia and Singapore to attract would-be tourists and assure them of their well-being while in Thailand.
Three persons, including two Malaysian tourists, were killed in the hotel car bombing.
Governor Kritsada Boonraj said Monday that initial compensation has been provided to those affected and that the balance of the compensation will be paid within three months.
