Hatyai (thailand's Third City)

[fox]

As a regular traveller to Hatyai, I regret to say that the latest bomb blasts in Hatyai and Songkhla

has a very devastating effect on their tourism industry. It will take months or even years to recover

back the economy .............. especially in the tourism industry.

Under normal circumstances, given any day, thousands and thousands of Malaysians and

Singaporeans will cross over the border to Hatyai for shopping, eating, entertainment, and the

sexy night life......... by car, by bus, by tour bus, by van, by motor-cycle, by train or just walk in.

During week-ends and public holidays the amount of visitors would be much much higher.

Hotels fully booked and the rates much higher than normal.

My friend who was there just told me this. The very next morning thousands of tourists quickly

checked out from the hotels and quickly left for home.

Just for your info. Some 50 years ago, Hatyai was just a village town.

It is because of the tourism industry that made Hatyai today as Thailand's third city.

We have regular flights from Malaysia and Singapore to Hatyai's International Airport.

This latest incident will kill the goose that lay the golden egg.

[SEAtramp]

My friend who was there just told me this. The very next morning thousands of tourists quickly

checked out from the hotels and quickly left for home.

Exploding bombs tend to have that effect on people.

[sabaijai]

Thailand's 8th city by current muncipal population:

no. Name 2000 calc.2005 parent division

1 Bangkok 6 320 174 5 104 475 Bangkok Metropolitan Area

2 Samut Prakan 378 694 388 921 Samut Prakan

3 Nonthaburi 291 307 375 826 Nonthaburi

4 Udon Thani 220 493 247 232 Udon Thani

5 Chon Buri 182 641 219 190 Chon Buri

6 Nakhon Ratchasima 204 391 208 781 Nakhon Ratchasima

7 Chiang Mai 167 776 200 952 Chiang Mai

8 Hat Yai 185 557 191 696 Songkhla

9 Pak Kret 141 788 182 926 Nonthaburi

10 Si Racha 141 334 178 916 Chon Buri

or 6th by metropolitan area:

no. Name 2000 calc.2005 parent division

1 Krung Thep 8 450 000 9 751 492

2 Udon Thani 220 493 247 232 Udon Thani

3 Chon Buri 182 641 219 190 Chon Buri

4 Nakhon Ratchasima 204 391 208 781 Nakhon Ratchasima

5 Chiang Mai 167 776 200 952 Chiang Mai

6 Hat Yai 185 557 191 696 Songkhla

7 Si Racha 141 334 178 916 Chon Buri

8 Lampang 147 812 156 139 Lampang

9 Khon Kaen 141 034 147 579 Khon Kaen

10 Surat Thani 111 276 127 201 Surat Thani