Hidden Gems In Southern Thailand Ready To Charm Visitors

PATTANI (Southern Thailand), Oct 21 (Bernama) – As a long-tailed boat cruises slowly through the tranquil mangrove tunnel, a chatter of cicadas and birds greeted the visitors. The leafy ceiling, formed of mangroves, dense tangle of prop roots and calm waters, makes beautiful and breathtaking landscapes that lies along Pattani Bay in southern Thailand. Today, many had been awed by the splendour of the mangrove forest in Yaring district of Pattani in southern Thailand. They took a boat ride to explore the area – watching sunrise and sunset, the birds, and glowing fireflies. Besides the mangrove forest, Pattani – one of the five southernmost provinces in Thailand – offers unique and memorable experiences for travellers – comprising beautiful nature, diverse cultures, and mouth-watering local cuisine. Historic mosques such as Pattani Central Mosque and Masjid Kerisik or Krue Se Mosque, Chinese shrines such as Chao Mae Lim Ko Niao Shrine, and Buddhist temples such as Wat Sai Khao, as well as beautiful beaches, waterfalls and national park, are among the attractions in Pattani. Pattani is also known as the beautiful city of three cultures, where the population of more than 40,000 is a mix of Malay, Thai and Chinese living harmoniously. “Everyone knows Thailand has a lot to offer. Pattani is one of the hidden gems that awaits visitors to discover,” said Fareeda Abdulloh, 33, a community-based tour operator in Bang Pu Village in Yaring. She said the tourism industry is fast-growing in Pattani, and many visitors including tourists from Malaysia have been coming since the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and borders are reopened. “We hope to put Pattani on the world tourist map,” she told Bernama. Violence and unrest in deep south since 2004 are keeping tourists away. Statistics by independent monitoring group Deep South Watch showed the relentless cycle of violence in southern Thailand, which began in 2004 in Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla, has claimed more than 7,000 lives to date. Talks between the government and insurgents which began in 2013 to bring peace was stalled following a military coup a year later. The talks resumed later without key stakeholders including Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN). However, the talks between the Thai government and BRN, the most influential armed group in southern Thailand, started in 2019. It has made a concrete progress and achieved an important milestone that brings hope of ending the violence in southern border provinces of Thailand after a series of meetings. The head of the BRN delegation to the talks, Anas Abdulrahman, hoped the process can be continued and bring genuine and honourable peace for all. Former national police chief Abdul Rahim Mohd Noor, who represents the Malaysian government, is acting as the facilitator for the peace talks in southern Thailand. The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC), a local government agency coordinating southern border provinces administration, is stepping up efforts to boost tourism and socio-economic activities to improve the livelihood of the people. SBPAC Secretary-General Rear Admiral Somkiat Pholprayoon said he agency has intensified its efforts to promote the deep south as a new tourist destination for culture, natural and heritage enthusiasts. “We know many Malaysians love to travel to southern Thailand. However, they only visited Hatyai and Sadao. Therefore, we would like to invite them to visit and experience the beauty of other provinces in the south. “Security and safety will always be our top priority. We will take care of you (tourists) the best we can when you are in Thailand,” he said. Meanwhile, government deputy spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek said many assumed that the three southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat as well as a small part of neighbouring Songkhla province are Muslim-majority provinces. “It is actually a multicultural region. The community here consists of Buddhists and Muslims living peacefully. “I would like to invite everyone to experience our multiculturalism in the deep south,” she said. --BERNAMA