At least Bt200m to be spent in Hat Yai during Chinese New Year festival

BANGKOK, February 8 (TNA) - Hat Yai is welcoming both Thai and foreign visitors, particularly those from neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore, during the ongoing Chinese New Year festival, with a total of at least 200 million baht expected to be circulated in the southern Thai business hub during the annual Lunar New Year celebrations. Somchat Pimthanapoonporn, chief of Hat Yai's hotels association, told reporters on Friday that Thai and international tourists are pouring into the area, with hotel rooms having been fully-booked during February 10-16 and a total of over 200 million baht expected to be spent during the ongoing Chinese New Year festival in Hat Yai this year. Somchat attributed international tourists' confidence in security measures provided by local police, soldiers and even civilian defence forces, with more street patrols and checkpoints set up at all the four corners of the area, as a main factor to help draw such the large number of tourists to the southern Thai business hub. The Nakhon Hat Yai Municipality has, meanwhile, magnificently decorated its streets with red lanterns, Chinese style facade, as well as god and goddess statues to liven up the festivity atmosphere of the Lunar New Year 2013. (TNA)