KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 — Thailand’s southern tourism industry is calling on its Transport Ministry to ease restrictions for tour buses from Malaysia to boost visitors to its 14 provinces.

The Bangkok Post reported Phatthalung Tourism Association president Jarun Kaewjeesub saying at a recent forum by the country’s National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) that they needed more Malaysian tourists to visit the southern border area.

Tourism associations in 14 southern provinces in Thailand said that they wanted Malaysian tour buses to travel beyond the border province of Songkhla to other southern provinces.

“The easing of the regulation would enable authorities to stimulate the region’s economy through promotional campaigns,

“More relaxed entrance rules to allow Malaysian visitors entering Songkhla to travel deeper into other southern provinces would help spread the visitors to other areas,” the news report read.

The forum also decided to draft a request to be submitted to the director general of the Land Transport Department, asking that Malaysian visitors be allowed to visit all 14 southern provinces by tour bus.

They also requested that the restrictions covered tourists from Singapore and Indonesia too,

According to Hatyai Songkhla Hotels Association president Sitthiphong Sitthiphatprapha, at least two million tourists are expected to visit Songkhla using land transport this year, higher than last year’s 800-900,000.

Songkhla Tourism Promotion Association president Songchai Mungprasithchai said Hat Yai was the top choice for Malaysian tourists who wanted food-related experiences.

Most of them enter via the Sadao immigration checkpoint and choose Hat Yai as their weekend destination. Around 70 per cent are tour groups.

Songchai said the average occupancy rate during Malaysia’s school holidays are 70 to 80 per cent.

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/06/06/southern-thailand-wants-more-land-accessibility-at-14-provinces-for-malaysian-tourists/72770