Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Thailand will gain more should the Malaysian-Thai border reopen said Malaysian Association of Hotels Kedah/Perlis Chapter chairman Eugene Dass.
He said this is because more Malaysians go to Thailand than Thais come to Malaysia.
Instead, he suggested the government limit border operating time to help the ailing tourism industry in the north.
When the border has limited operating time, people will spend a night in Alor Star before they depart to Thailand, such as Danok and Hatyai, the next morning.
Sometimes it is seen that some Thai people stopping by at Alor Star because next day they are going to Genting (Highland), but it’s negligible.
Last week, Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry deputy spokesman Natapanu Nopakun said Thailand was planning to reopen the Thai-Malaysia border in March to boost tourist arrivals, as Malaysian tourists have been the largest group of visitors to the kingdom before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the movement.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will be visiting Thailand this week and matters to be discussed during his three-day visit included the reopening of land borders.
Dass said the hotel occupancy rate in Kedah was at an average of 55 per cent after the interstate travel ban was lifted.
If the border reopens, occupancy rate may pick up 10 to 15 per cent. With the lower Ringgit to Thai Bhat, there may be more Thai tourists visiting, but mainly to Langkawi.
At the moment, they do not know whether the currency can be a pull factor, because it happens during the pandemic, only when the border reopens.
He also suggested the relevant authorities play a bigger role in promoting tourism products in Kedah.
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