Songkhla’s tourism industry may lose as much as ฺBt7 billion, as the severe flooding has devastated Hat Yai and surrounding districts and forced upcoming SEA Games events to be moved to Bangkok, President of the Hat Yai–Songkhla Hotels Association, Sitthipong Sitthiphatprapa said today.
The widespread flooding across Hat Yai has caused extensive damage to homes, businesses and tourism infrastructure, with some residents still unable to return to their houses.
Sitthipong said the disaster has deepened the tourism sector’s crisis, with more than 10,000 travellers stranded during the floods and year-end tourism now expected to collapse.
The inundation coincided with tourism’s high season and the province has lost the opportunity to host major events, particularly the SEA Games, which are now being moved to the capital.
“Tourism revenue losses are projected at over 7 billion baht. If recovery is delayed into January or February next year, total damage could reach 10 billion, excluding an estimated 3 billion in repair costs for hotel businesses,” according to Sitthipong.
The president added that the Interior Ministry has reached out to the association, asking if hotels that could house displaced residents temporarily.
He said only 20 out of more than 300 hotels in Hat Yai and Songkhla are, however, currently able to operate, as many of them remain inundated or are undergoing repairs.
Most of the rooms are already booked by aid agencies and emergency teams, he said, adding that full recovery for most hotels may take two to three months.
Hotel operators are preparing to submit proposals to the prime minister, urging the government to introduce relief measures, such as debt moratoria, low-interest ‘recovery loans’ and the temporary suspension of land-tax payments, which are due early next year.
Sitthipong added that many operators believe that the government’s management of the flood crisis “has failed.”
