HatYaiCity:Unrest&Economy

GWR · #1 23-10-05, 06:05 PM

A look at those aquifers that most of your bottled water comes from. Doubtless, Bangkok is the same:-

http://www.unep.org/vitalwater/23-urban-groundwater.htm

GWR · #2 07-10-06, 12:38 AM

Hat-Yai today hosted some sort of street carnival designed to boost its tourist trade and flagging morale after the recent bombings. If I had half of Ron's motivation to get out and take snaps, I would have been there to bring it to you, wouldn't I? Unfortunately, business often calls at the wrong times. Let's hope either Dr John and/or Dr Has will deliver some pictures of this event!

Teen Culture in the 'Yai'

Just some comment on this Ron picture of 'after hours roadside gas sales in Hat-Yai'. These vendors mostly cater for the 'Ssing Crowd' -teenage motorcycle street racers on overpowered 'noddy' bikes. Not to mention those richer dudes with skinny-tired coupes. Doubtless its the same in Bangkok and most Thai cities. There are also a lot of roadside teastalls that sell (reportedly amphetamine-laced) tea. Punters sit/lie on large carpets laid along the sidewalk, with low-slung tables. They watch videos on TVs with large-screen TVs with humungous noise-polluting boom box sound systems. The notorious 'Khet Bpairt' (District 8) used to have many such nuiscences to keep the locals awake most of the night. It's all supposed to have a slightly romantic ambience.

GWR · #3 25-10-06, 09:53 AM

Malaysians & Singaporeans sometimes need precious little encouragement to return to Hat-Yai. There have, of course, been many other bomb and flood scares in the past. By some accounts, last weekend's Vegetarian Festival pulled in a sizeable number of people from down south. Hotels had decent occupancy levels and stallholders were pleased with the business. This is quite surprising so soon after last month's bombs and coup. There have frequent rumors of bomb threats during Ramadan, and the police even distributed leaflets to houses - a few days back - telling people to remain alert. Unfortunately, I didn't get one of these. The recipient did as was suggested, and passed the leaflet on to other locals.

On the other hand, perhaps the audience for this sort of festival aren't too squeamish about the sight of blood anyway. Here are two sides of a publicity leaflet for the festival, in Thai & Chinese: -

http://i14.tinypic.com/2zf63c4.jpg

http://i14.tinypic.com/4df1ooy.jpg

Slideshow presentation of a similar 'meat obsessed' vegetarian festival: -

Quote:

Added September 07, 2006
From photorikki
This is a slide show that was shot during the 9 day Vegetarian Festival in Phuket, Thailand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRREkNpSvMA

GWR · #4 28-10-06, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Piercing with a satellite dish - The Nation, October 27, 2006
Photo from The Nation: A man has pierced his jaw

with a metal bar as part of a parade to celebrate the Vegetarian Festival in Songkhla province on Friday.

http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/10/...0017327-01.jpg

Well, I suspect they mean cheek.

More evidence that the festival contines to suck in Malaysians and Singaporeans in significant numbers: -

Quote:

Vegetarian celebrants converge on Hat Yai
SONGKHLA, Oct 26 (TNA) - Thousands of tourists from neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore have flocked to Hat Yai, South Thailand's most popular commercial district and shopping paradise which celebrates annually with a vegetarian food festival.

Visitors converging from points south of the border are giving a boost to the region's slumping tourism after recent insurgent bombings.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) southern bureau director Suthep Kuesang expects the nine-day-festival to attract 50,000-60,000 foreign tourists from Malaysia and Singapore to Songkhla.

Mr. Suthep estimated that some Bt 300 million baht would be generated during the vegetarian food festival which is part of a series of events intended to restore confidence among foreign tourists who were reluctant to visit after a series of bombings in October left six persons dead and injured scores of others.

Thailand has fought continuing violence in southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat since early 2004.

Even though Songkhla is not in the main targeted areas, the militants have conducted attacks in the province from time to time, aiming to hurt the local economy which relies heavily on tourism.

Earlier, the province successfully hosted its 'Colourful Hat Yai Fair' and a Buddhist merit making ceremony without any incidents.

Mr. Suthep said the events which are linked to Buddhist religious beliefs and dietary practices have attracted foreign tourists who are mostly pilgrims.

''The Vegetarian Food Festival has created a good atmosphere for our slumping tourism. It will help in generating some Bt300 million,'' he said.

As the town is preparing for annual Loi Krathong Festival in November, Mr. Suthep warned local tour operators and hoteliers against raising room rates and overcharging visitors.

Malaysian and Singaporean tourists have reportedly packed shrines in Hat Yai district to pay homage to a Chinese goddess during the festival. (TNA)-E110

http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=25634

The "colorful Hat Yai Fair" mentioned above may have been a security success, but it wasn't well attended.

GWR · #5 03-11-06, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Heavy Hat Yai hotel bookings for Loy Krathong festival
SONGKHLA, Oct 14 (TNA) – Hotel bookings in Hat Yai district here have picked up for next month's Loy Krathong festival which falls on November 5 as numbers of Malaysian tourists plan to visit the district, Somchart Pimtanapoonpol, president of Hat Yai-Songkhla Hotels Association said on Saturday.

Tourism in Hat Yai declined significantly after six bombs exploded at entertainment venues on September 16, killing five persons, including a Canadian school teacher, and wounding about 70 others.

But the tourism business in Hat Yai, known as a paradise for both shopping and night-oriented entertainment for tourists, has begun to improve with hotel bookings, mainly by Malaysian tourists who plan to attend the festival, which is held annually, Mr. Somchart said.

On Loy Krathong night, people traditionally float their krathongs, or 'floating prayers'-- offerings of flowers, candles and incense, on streams and rivers to show gratitude to the Goddess of Water and ask her for forgiveness for improper use of the river and water resources during the preceding year.

Meanwhile, Anant Prueksanusak, deputy mayor of Sadao district, said his district bordering Malaysia would celebrate Loy Krathong on November 4 and 5.

Several events including a beauty contest, student exhibitions and movies will be held during the celebrations, he said. (TNA)-E111

http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=25399

rodfaithai · #6 08-11-06, 05:19 PM

It's seem Thai people afraid of Hatyai more than Malaysian or Singaporian.

This year we made an artificial canal on Sanaehanusorn Road and turn Nipat-U-Thit-3 road and part of Thammanoonvitee road to be a pedestrian streets.

It's OK, full of people on the roads

We gonna install hundred of CCTV camera very soon. (within 90 days)

GWR · #7 26-02-07, 09:57 PM

Quote:

PRINCE OF SONGKLA VARSITY
Students protest against fee hike

Hunger strike threatened over 'unreasonable' rise

Prince of Songkla University students have vowed to go on hunger strike against tuition fee hikes of up to 250 per cent that will come into effect next semester.

The university recently announced the new tuition fee rates for all faculties in its five campuses - Hat Yai, Pattani, Trang, Surat Thani and Phuket.

The hikes range between 20 and 252 per cent. The top 13 increases are in the field of social science.

The fee for a bachelor degree in communication arts topped the increases at 252 per cent - up from Bt31,750 to Bt112,000.

A group of student activists at the university's Pattani Campus launched the protest campaign with banners against the "unreasonable" fee hike.

Tadapong Sampaosri, a Faculty of Humanities student who leads the protest, said the university's executives had failed to explain the reasons behind the hike.

"We want to know why they want to aggravate the plight of southern people like us with this hike," he said. "Incomes of locals are now every low due to the unsolved problems of the unrest. How can parents find money to pay such high fees for their children?"

Tadapong said he did not oppose the idea of a fee hike, but it should be reasonable and in accordance with inflation.

"It's such a cruel hike," he said.

The group has gathered over 1,000 signatures of students so far who oppose the fee rise.

Tadapong plans to travel to Bangkok to petition to the education minister. "If necessary, we might go on hunger strike like Bangkok students who are striking against the plan to make universities autonomous."

Wutthipong Chansrinuan, a leading student activist at the university's Hat Yai Campus, said students learned about the increase just two weeks ago.

"They were so wise to announce the hike during the semester's final examination … we couldn't hold a protest during this period," he said, adding protesting would start as soon as the exam period had finished.

The tuition fee for his Faculty of Management Sciences course will be increased from about Bt32,000 per course to Bt104,000.

The stable rate of tuition fees for about the last seven to eight years was one of the main reasons given by university executives for the sudden hike. "We have more and more students each year, but the budget received from the state has increased only slightly. It's not enough to preserve educational standards of the university," said Sompong Thongpong, vice president of the Pattani campus.

Sompong said the university also had plans to promote information technology, so more money was needed for IT equipment.

Chatrarat Kaewmorakot

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007...l_30027884.php

Quote:

The biggest increases

The 10 programmes at Prince of Songkla University which have the highest tuition fee increases. The new rates will take affect in the next semester.

Programme/ Old rate (per course)/ New rate/ Percent of hike

1. Arts Programme in Communication Arts/ Bt31,750/ Bt112,000/ 252%

2. Public Administration Programme in Financial Management/ Bt31,750/ Bt104,000/ 227%

3. Public Administration Programme in Public policy/ Bt32,050/ Bt104,000/ 224%

4. Public Administration Programme in Personnel Management/ Bt32,400/ Bt104,000/ 220%

5. Business Administration Programme in Human Resource Management/ Bt32,725/ Bt104,000/217%

6. Business Administration Programme in Finance/ Bt32,875/ Bt104,000/ 216%

7. Business Administration Programme in Accountancy/ Bt32,925/ Bt104,000/ 215%

8. Business Administration Programme in Marketing/ Bt33,925/ Bt104,000/ 206%

9. Business Computer Programme/ Bt37,025/ Bt104,000/ 180%

10. Agricultural Development Programme/ Bt42,840/ Bt120,000/ 180%

Source: Prince of Songkla University student activist group

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007...l_30027887.php

GWR · #8 11-03-07, 03:29 PM

Quote:

''Malaysian tourists are bored with Hat Yai. It has been the same over the last 30-40 years.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/11Mar2007_news00.php
The above comment - at the end of the article below - suggests that the tourist associations in the province have partly brought this crisis on themselves by over-reliance on the same old worn-out nightlife and shopping formula. I also have a feeling that the hoteliers are not giving us the full picture here. There is a lot more competition from cheap & cheerful small hotels of late, for instance. I'd also like to see some statistics to back up these claims. And are they inventing the idea that unrest further 'south' is having an impact on the industrial development of the province? One also wonders why such hoteliers believe that they are entitled to a share in a government investment scheme that is clearly intended to assist economic 'basketcase' provinces:

Quote:

Hat Yai tourism in peril
Hotel occupancy plummets to 20-30%

By Wichayant Boonchote

Six Hat Yai tourism associations are pinning their hopes on the government to help turn around the tourism industry, now going through its worst slump in three years since the flare-up of the violent insurgency in the southern region. They met last week to map out a 10-point list of demands they hoped would help rejuvenate the ailing sector.

The demands included a 50% cut in local taxes, suspension of the FT charge on electricity bills, scrapping underground water fees, making low-interest loans available, intensive tourism promotion campaigns, better security measures, and state contribution to the Social Security Fund on behalf of employers.

The six bodies were Songkhla's Tourism Business Association, Hat Yai-Songkhla Hoteliers Association, Songkhla Tour Guides Association, Songkhla Chamber of Commerce, Songkhla Tourism Business Federation, Songkhla Entertainment Business Association, and the Songkhla Tourism Bureau.

Chit Banluesilp, president of the Songkhla Chamber of Commerce, said the group resolved to push for government assistance as it was now beyond their means to help ailing businesses from going under.

The government seemed to concentrate its efforts more on the three border provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, while leaving Hat Yai out in the cold.

He said the plight of business operators and the proposed measures were made known to the Hai Yai governor and the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre director Pranai Suwanrath.

Hotelier Sawai na Phatthalung, the group's coordinator, said the entrepreneurs were now at the end of their wits and would find it hard to keep their businesses afloat without government assistance.

''If our demands are not met, we'll stage a demonstration. The situation is the worst in 30 years,'' he said.

Somchart Pimthanapoonporn, chairman of the Hat Yai-Songkhla Hoteliers Association, said hotel bookings averaged 20-30%, a far cry from the 50% occupancy rate needed to sustain the business.

He said his association and the provincial chamber of commerce had pushed for low-interest loans to help hotel operators, but to no avail.

Somboon Ponglertnapakorn, another hotelier, warned that the tourism business in Hat Yai would be as good as finished if the government fails to curb the violence by the middle of the year.

Mr Somboon believes massive layoffs and business closures will soon follow if the state takes no remedial steps.

He said the image of Hat Yai as an economic and tourism hub for the southern region was now a thing of the past.

''After facing so many bombings and arson attacks, Hat Yai is no longer the place it used to be,'' he said.

Songchai Mungprasitthichai, of the Songkhla Tour Guides Association, said the insurgency has accelerated the doom of Hat Yai's tourism industry.

He said the town needed new attractions to lure back Malaysian tourists.

''Malaysian tourists are bored with Hat Yai. It has been the same over the last 30-40 years.

''Within five years, Hat Yai will be overlooked if new tourism sites are introduced,'' he said.

Nimit Chaijirathikul, chairman of Songkhla Tourism Business Federation, said the operators would be more than happy if the government could implement just three or four of the demands.

He was banking on low-interest loans and tourism promotion campaigns to spur his flagging business. ''This should not be too hard to do. The private sector is now in a real crisis,'' he said.

GWR · #9 23-03-07, 02:48 PM

Quote:

TOURISM / SOUTHERN VIOLENCE

Hat Yai outlook goes from bad to worse

CHATRUDEE THEPARAT

Hat Yai - Tourism conditions in Hat Yai are going from bad to worse, with some hotel operators leaving the area altogether, according to Nimitr Chaichiratikul, the president of the Tourist Business Federation of Songkhla.

The violence that re-emerged in the three southernmost provinces in 2004 has had an increasing effect on nearby Songkhla, where Hat Yai is the main commercial centre.

Bombings that took place in Hat Yai last year worsened the tourism outlook, and recent violence has made businesses even more pessimistic, Mr Nimitr told a meeting held yesterday by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani chaired the meeting, at which businesses as well as officials were invited to voice their concerns.

Mr Nimitr estimated that Songkhla had lost about 15 billion baht since 2004. Foreign tourist arrivals are estimated at 600,000 to 700,000 this year, substantially down from one million a year before 2004, he said. Revenue is likely to be worth only 10 billion baht this year.

Foreign tourist arrivals declined to 720,826 in 2005, partially because of flooding, compared with 852,234 in 2004 and 1,044,900 in 2003. The number increased marginally last year to 720,860.

Tourism earned the province about 12 billion baht last year, a rise from 11.7 billion baht a year earlier but down from 14 billion baht in 2004. Foreign tourists, many of them Malaysians, contributed nearly half of Songkhla's tourism revenue.

Sawai Na Pathalung, executive chairman of Pink Hotel & Complex and adviser to the Thai Hotel Association of Hat Yai, said about seven three-star hotels were recently taken over by Singaporean investors.

The owners of more than 10 hotels are likely to be forced to sell this year because they could not afford to pay debt given the sharp drop in occupancy.

Normally, the occupancy rate of hotels in Hat Yai averages about 65%. The rate fell to only 20% after the latest bombings in September last year.

Hotel operations are generally able to survive only when their occupancy rate stays above 50%, Mr Sawai said.

''We desperately call on the government to help address the problems as soon as possible to restore the confidence of tourists about safety in order to boost the industry and consumption in the province,'' he said.

''Installing CCTV (closed-circuit TV) in public areas is also necessary.''

The government is also being urged to support soft loans with interest rates of 1.5% to 2% to hotel entrepreneurs in order to maintain their businesses.

According to the Songkhla TAT Office, the province has 167 hotels with a total of 11,777 rooms, 137 tour operators, 630 tour guides, and 370 restaurants.

Link likely to expire:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/23Mar2007_biz35.php

GWR · #10 23-03-07, 03:08 PM

Given that bomb blasts have got quite close to royal and government motorcades in recent months, this Malaysian minister is actually taking some risk. He will, of course, have a significant escort. Pointless exercise really! Many people travel into Thailand in similar minibuses to the one in which 9 people were killed last week:

Quote:

23 March 2007 Malaysian Tourism Ministry meets with Songkhla Governor
Malaysian Tourism Ministry Hon Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor visited with Thailand’s Songkhla (สงขลา) Governor, in a meeting aimed at boosting tourist confidence in the region.

The Southern Unrest has greatly affected tourism in the southern provinces. In an attempt to boost tourist confidence in traveling to Thailand’s south provinces and to Malaysia, the Malaysian Tourism Minister and entourage met with Songkhla Governor Sonthi Techanan (สนธิ เตชานันท์) at Songkhla City Hall. The meeting will find ways to boost the tourism of both countries.

The Malaysian Tourism Minister will travel back to Malaysia by car through Thailand’s three southernmost provinces, in a public display meant to guarantee that Thailand is safe for tourists to visit.

The Songkhla Governor said that the meeting will also strengthens bilateral relationships between Thailand and Malaysia and seek new ways to regain tourists’ confidence.

http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglis...line=Malaysian

GWR · #11 25-03-07, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GWR

Given that bomb blasts have got quite close to royal and government motorcades in recent months, this Malaysian minister is actually taking some risk. He will, of course, have a significant escort. Pointless exercise really! Many people travel into Thailand in similar minibuses to the one in which 9 people were killed last week:

http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglis...line=Malaysian

Quote:

Tengku Adnan: Southern Thailand still safe to visit

By CHRISTINA CHIN

MALAYSIANS have nothing to fear when visiting southern Thailand

Reports of bombings and political instability have been blown out of proportion by the foreign media, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor after a meeting with Songkhla governor Dr Sondhi Tejanant.

“The bombings were isolated incidences. Southern Thailand remains a safe tourist destination.

“I insisted on driving around during my visit and even went out walking in Haadyai at night just to see the situation for myself and I can assure you that there is nothing to fear,” he said, adding that negative press on Thailand would also affect tourist arrivals to Malaysia.

“When foreign tourists hear about political instability in Thailand, it affects their perception of Asia as a whole. That is why it is important for us to help promote the truth about our neighbour,” he said after the meeting in Songkhla on Friday.

The minister was on a three-day visit to Phuket, Haadyai and Songkhla to foster closer relations and cooperation between the two countries.

He told journalists that his ministry was committed to promoting the “One Destination-Three Countries” concept where tourists are encouraged to visit Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand as part of a package.

“We hope to implement a system where tourists from Europe are allowed to visit all the countries in the Asian region with just one visa,” he said, adding that the government was also in talks with several Asian countries to promote free movement among neighbouring countries.

“This will allow travellers to visit nearby countries without a passport,” he said, adding that Malaysia was keen on learning how Thailand marketed herself successfully as a destination for long haul tourists.

He said his ministry was also in talks with Thai tourism authorities to promote Malaysia's homestay programmes among young Thai travellers.

Link may expire:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...0527&sec=North

GWR · #12 25-08-07, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GWR

Link likely to expire:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/23Mar2007_biz35.php

Malaysia's Independence Day continues to be a good reason to get away from it for a few days:

Quote:

Flood of Malaysian tourists expected to celebrate Independence Day in Hat Yai

SONGKHLA, Aug 25 (TNA) - Over 50 per cent of hotel rooms in Hat Yai district of this southern province have already been booked, and it is expected that room occupancy rates will be quite high late next week when a flood of Malaysian tourists is expected to travel here to celebrate Malaysian Independence Day, a senior tourist trade official said Saturday.

Somchart Pimtanapoonporn, president of the Hat Yai-Songkhla Hotels Association, said he believed hotel rooms in Hat Yai, a shopping paradise for tourists, will be almost fully booked next week and that some Bt100 million is expected to change hands when the influx of Malaysian tourists entering the district will peak.

Malaysia will celebrate its 50th Independence Day on August 31.

Tourism in the South should improve after that due to several tourism campaigns being organised, said Mr. Somchart.

The overall situation in the three restive southern provinces -- Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat -- has picked up as locals and tourists gain more confidence in relation to safety, despite the region's ongoing insurgency, he said. (TNA)-E111

Last Update : 2007-08-25 / 16:27:16 (GMT+7:00)

http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=31268

GWR · #13 31-08-07, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GWR

Malaysia's Independence Day continues to be a good reason to get away from it for a few days:

http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=31268

Yes! There are a lot of Malaysians in town today. And there have been since last weekend.

Quote:

Hat Yai tourism resumes normally for Malaysian holidays

SONGKHLA, Aug 31 (TNA) - The tourism business in Hat Yai district, Thailand's southern business and tourism hub in Songkhla province, is expected to be back to business as usual for this year's celebration of Malaysia's independence, with more south of the border tourists anticipated to come back, according to a local hotelier.

Somchart Pimtanapoonporn, president of the Hat Yai-Songkhla Hotels Association, said a flood of Malaysian tourists were travelling to Hat Yai to celebrate the 50th Malaysian Independence Day Friday.

He said 80 per cent of over 9,000 hotel rooms in Hat Yai, a shopping paradise for tourists, were booked for the August 30-September 1 holiday period, with some Bt100 million expected to change hands.

Mr. Somchart said the atmosphere on Friday morning was quite lively as many Malaysians enjoy shopping and eating in the district.

The tourism business was expected to pick up as locals and tourists gain more confidence in relation to safety, despite the region's ongoing insurgency, he said.

However, the hotelier admitted that tourism campaigns are still needed to build the atmosphere for tourism, and that good security measures needed to be in place to secure confidence among tourists.

.......... Betong Report = http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bang...ed=1#post16806
..........

http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=31381

GWR · #14 09-06-08, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Songkhla tourism begins to recover, revitalise

HAT YAI, June 9 (TNA) – Tourism in Thailand's southern railways junction province of Songkhla has begun to pick up and become revitalised again, due to increasing numbers of Malaysian tourists travelling in tour groups and by their personal vehicles.

A large number of Malaysian tourists in particular had come to Songkhla now because there were school holidays in Malaysia starting from late May to June 8.

The semester break allowed numbers of younger tourists and families to make more time intensive road journeys.

In particular, an additional number Malaysian tourists had travelled to Thailand's southern crossroads business district in the largest numbers during the past three days since June 7, because that Saturday was declared a national holiday marking the birthday of the Malaysian sultan.

Somchai Pimthanapunporn, president of Haad Yai-Songkhla Hotels Association, said that tourism in Songkla in the past several weeks must be considered as the most active in the past four years because of the numbers of Malaysian and Singaporean tourists which had arrived in the province.

It showed that foreign tourists began to have more confidence in the safety of their travel here. It is estimated more than Bt200 million had been spent in that period, he said. (TNA)-E005

http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=4668

GWR · #15 09-06-08, 11:50 AM

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