Hat Yai's Chinese New Year tourism tanks after last year's floods

Hat Yai's Chinese New Year tourism just tanked. Hotel bookings are way down and tons of businesses are still closed months after last year's floods hammered the city.

This should be peak season. Chinese New Year usually brings crowds of Malaysian and Singaporean tourists across the border for shopping and food. Not this year.

What's actually happening

Local hotel operators are reporting significantly lower bookings compared to previous years. The usual buzz around Hat Yai's markets and restaurants during Chinese New Year? Pretty much gone.

The bigger problem: many businesses still haven't reopened from the flooding that hit Hat Yai in late 2024. We're talking months later and parts of the tourism infrastructure are still down.

This isn't just a slow season — it's flood recovery dragging into what should be the busiest time of year.

Why this matters if you're planning to visit

Hat Yai sits right at the Malaysian border and normally serves as a shopping destination for day-trippers and weekend visitors from KL and Singapore. The city's known for cheap electronics, textiles, and solid Southern Thai food.

But if businesses are still closed and the usual Chinese New Year energy isn't there, you might want to adjust expectations or timing.

The positive side: fewer crowds and probably better deals at hotels that are open. The downside: some of your usual spots might not be operating yet.

The flood connection

Last year's flooding was serious enough to shut down businesses for months. That's not just water damage — that's full reconstruction, restocking, and staff rehiring. Small family-run shops and restaurants don't bounce back overnight from that kind of hit.

Chinese New Year timing makes it worse. This is when these businesses normally make a chunk of their annual revenue from the cross-border shopping rush.

What this means for travelers

If you're thinking about a Hat Yai trip soon:

• Call ahead if you have specific shops or restaurants in mind
• Hotel deals are probably available since occupancy is down
• Border crossing should be smoother with fewer tourists
• Food scene might be limited if key places are still closed

Hat Yai will recover — it always does. The city's too strategically located and too important for cross-border trade to stay down. But right now, it's dealing with the timing of flood recovery hitting during what should be peak tourist season.

For what it's worth, this might actually be a decent time to visit if you want to see Hat Yai without the usual crowds. Just don't expect the full experience until more businesses get back on their feet.

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Source: Bangkok Post

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Source: Hat Yai tourism reels as Chinese New Year bookings plunge