Malaysian tourists flock to Hat Yai for Songkran festivity

BANGKOK, April 11 (TNA) - Malaysian tourists have begun arriving in Hat Yai of Thailand's southern Songkhla province to enjoy a series of events held to celebrate the traditional Thai New Year or Songkran Festival, including the Midnight Songkran 2012 set to start Wednesday evening, turning tourism in the southern Thai business hub to become lively. A few roads have been closed to traffic in preparations for the Midnight Songkran 2012 in Hat Yai; while security forces, including defence volunteers and special police units, have been deployed around the event venue to ensure public safety, although the local security officers are unarmed to boost peaceful image and restore confidence in the southern Thai city among local people and international tourists, in the wake of a car bombing attack on March 31. It is expected that only 10 per cent of hotel rooms booking in Hat Yai will be cancelled during this year's Songkran period, lower than earlier forecast of 30-40 per cent, despite the March 31 incident. (TNA)