Thailand Tourism Minister Coordinates Urgent Aid for Tourists Stranded by the Flooding in Hat Yai, Songkhla, Supporting Local Tourism Recovery

Published on November 23, 2025

In Hat Yai, Songkhla Province, up to 1,000 tourists and travelers were stranded at Hat Yai International Airport and at several hotels across this city due to severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall; a rapid relief operation was launched by Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, Minister of Tourism and Sports of Thailand. With the floodwaters gravely affecting access to the city’s inner economic zones, tourists-both Thai and international-were unable to leave their accommodations.

The Tourism Ministry has been working in collaboration with local officials to provide urgent aid to these stranded travelers, ensuring their safety and well-being while also focusing on immediate needs within the local tourism sector, which is significantly affected by the situation.

Coordinated Response Efforts to Address Tourism Disruption

Minister Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn confirmed that the government has mobilized emergency relief teams to provide essential services to the stranded visitors, with Deputy Prime Minister Captain Thamanat Prompow overseeing the operation. 10-wheel trucks are being dispatched by the Royal Irrigation Department to deliver food and water to the affected hotels and facilitate the movement of travelers to temporary shelters or the airport, all coordinated by the Tourist Police who are working around the clock.

This coordinated effort is vital in minimizing the negative impact on tourism and ensuring that the stranded tourists—many of whom are foreign nationals—are well cared for. However, the flood has highlighted how vulnerable tourism infrastructure is to natural disasters, especially in popular tourist destinations like Hat Yai, which depends on smooth international and domestic travel flows.

The Impact on Hat Yai’s Tourism Sector and Visitor Experience

As tourist activities in Hat Yai and surrounding areas grind to a halt, the economic consequences for local businesses and the hospitality sector are already becoming clear. The flooding has disrupted hotel bookings, transport services, and guided tours, forcing businesses to pause operations. The tourism-dependent economy in Hat Yai, a region known for attracting international visitors—especially from Malaysia—has been severely impacted, leading to potential revenue losses for the hospitality and tourism sectors.

The situation at Hat Yai International Airport is particularly critical, with an estimated 800 to 1,000 passengers expected to be stranded over the coming days. The disruption to air travel affects not only tourists’ ability to continue their journeys but also the broader tourism supply chain, which relies on efficient transportation to bring in visitors and keep local tourism businesses afloat.

The flooding also raises concerns over tourism safety, which is crucial in ensuring that visitors feel secure in returning to the destination once the situation stabilizes. Ensuring safe evacuation of tourists and providing basic first-aid facilities and rest areas are key aspects of the government’s strategy to maintain confidence in the tourism market.

Enhancing Resilience for Future Tourism Disruptions

While the flooding has caused short-term disruptions, it also presents an opportunity for Thailand’s tourism sector to strengthen its resilience in the face of natural disasters. As Hat Yai recovers, the Tourism Ministry is focusing on long-term sustainability measures that will make the city’s tourism infrastructure more disaster-resilient. The immediate relief efforts, which are critical for tourist safety, will likely evolve into a comprehensive tourism recovery plan, designed to ensure that flooding and other natural events have less impact on future tourism activities.

Thailand’s tourism authorities are likely to explore climate adaptation strategies, including better flood management, improved infrastructure, and emergency response protocols that can minimize disruption during such events. This initiative could set a precedent for tourism disaster preparedness in other vulnerable tourist destinations across Southeast Asia.

Short-Term and Long-Term Support for Tourism Recovery

The Tourist Police and the Tourist Assistance Centre (TAC) have played a crucial role in providing immediate assistance, ensuring 24-hour support for both local residents and foreign tourists. As the government works on short-term recovery and relief, such as ensuring the availability of food, water, and first-aid supplies, attention is also being given to long-term solutions to restore confidence in the tourism sector.

This includes efforts to track tourism flows, develop recovery frameworks, and encourage sustainable tourism practices to ensure that Hat Yai and other tourism destinations in Thailand can bounce back quickly from similar disruptions in the future.

Rebuilding Trust in Thailand’s Tourism Industry

Minister Atthakorn stressed the importance of continuing to reassure tourists about the long-term safety of visiting Thailand, even during unforeseen crises. As the government works tirelessly to provide relief, the Thai tourism sector must also focus on communicating effectively with both tourists and the international community to rebuild confidence in Thailand’s ability to manage tourism disruptions and ensure seamless visitor experiences.

Strengthening Tourism Resilience and Future Prospects

Severe flooding in Hat Yai has brought the aspect of disaster resilience in the tourism sector to light. At a time when Thailand’s government is coordinating relief efforts, this development presents an opportunity to re-strategize on how to assure tourism recovery, improve infrastructure, and reduce the impact of natural disasters on tourism-dependent economies like Hat Yai.

While the impact on tourism in the short term has been significant, such efforts underpin the commitment of the country to not only the management of tourist crises but also toward long-term solutions that will make the tourism industry more sustainable and robust in the future.