President of the Hatyai Songkhla Hotel Association, Sittipong Sitthipatprapha, said more than 36,000 Malaysian tourists entered the Songkhla province through three main entry points – Sadao, Ban Prakob, and Padang Besar – on Sept 14, with traffic jams reported from as early as 5am until 11pm, especially in the Hatyai area.

“Surveys conducted by authorities in Southern Thailand showed that throughout this long weekend – Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday – more than 100,000 tourists from Malaysia have visited Southern Thailand, particularly Hatyai and Songkhla, as well as neighbouring provinces like Phatthalung, Trang, and Krabi,” he said when contacted by Bernama.

He also mentioned that over 400 hotels, with more than 30,000 rooms, were fully booked during this period, with an estimated revenue of more than 1 billion baht.

Among those visiting Southern Thailand was Roosfa Hashim, from Bandar Baru Bangi.

The lecturer at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) said he had been visiting Southern Thailand for the past 30 years while conducting research for UKM Press.

“The short travel distance, affordable accommodation, and ease of finding halal food make Southern Thailand a top destination for Malaysian tourists. Overall, travelling to Southern Thailand is easy, cheap, and offers comfort and satisfaction,” he said.

Roosfa, who was met in Pattani, said the popular destinations for Malaysian tourists include Hatyai, Krabi and Phuket due to their proximity and efficient public transportation, both by land and air.

Ramlah Abdul Rashid, a teacher from Sabah, enjoyed visiting Pattani due to the availability of delicious and affordable halal food.

“The tom yums and soups here are more authentic and tasty, and the seafood is fresh. The ‘Nasi Kerabu Diraja’ here is also very delicious and presented beautifully,” she said.