Malaysian visitors keep travelling to Betong

Malaysian tourists continued to enter Betong in Yala province, despite unrest over the weekend, at several locations in Thailand's southern border provinces and an online campaign urging a boycott of Thailand.

On 24 August, families, tour groups and independent travellers were reported crossing at the Betong border checkpoint, opposite Bukit Berapit in Malaysia's Perak state. Visitors arrived by coach, motorcycle, big bike and private car, maintaining a busy weekend atmosphere in the town.

The campaign, using the slogan "JOM BOIKOT THAILAND", or "Let's boycott Thailand", has circulated on Malaysian social media. However, Malaysian visitors interviewed at the crossing said they remained confident in security measures provided by Thai authorities and did not intend to join the boycott.

Visitors say confidence remains

Betong Immigration officers were assisting travellers at the checkpoint and working alongside security agencies to provide safety and reassurance for local residents and Malaysian tourists.

Picture courtesy of Komchadluek

One Malaysian visitor, Rahem, said he and his family travel to Thailand regularly, normally entering through the Betong checkpoint. Their trips include shopping, eating out and buying goods before leaving Thailand through the Sungai Kolok border crossing in Narathiwat province.

He described the three southern border provinces as worthwhile places to visit, despite the continuing security incidents in the region.

Rahem said he remained confident in the ability of Thai military personnel, police and local officials to protect visitors. He also rejected the online boycott call, saying he believed it reflected the views of only a small group and would eventually fade because many Malaysians still wanted to travel to Thailand.

What it means for cross-border visitors

For Malaysian residents and other foreign travellers using the land route, the report indicates that the Betong crossing remained open and was handling regular weekend tourist traffic.

Visitors planning to travel through Thailand's deep south should nevertheless monitor official travel and security advice, particularly when travelling between border districts or using routes through Yala and Narathiwat. Conditions can change quickly following security-related events, while immigration and security checks may take longer at busy border posts.

Betong remains a popular overland destination for Malaysian visitors, particularly those travelling from Perak and nearby states for short breaks, food and shopping. The town's proximity to the Malaysian border means weekend visitor numbers can be heavily dependent on confidence in road and border security.

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25 August 2026

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