Half of Hat Yai hotel bookings cancelled after bombing

SONGKHLA, April 5 – Thailand’s traditional Songkran new year celebration in Hat Yai is likely to be less crowded than usual as the hoteliers’ association said more than half of the earlier rooms booked for Songkran in Hat Yai and Songkhla have been cancelled after last weekend’s deadly bombing and is costing the industry more than Bt50 million.

Hat Yai-Songkhla Hotel Business Association President Somchart Pimthanapoonporn said that the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel car bombing last Saturday that killed three persons--including two Malaysians--and wounded over 350 tourists and shoppers, has significantly affected the tourism business in the province.

He said the number of tourists dropped to around 20 per cent and more than 50 per cent of hotel rooms booked for the festival next week have been cancelled which is estimated to cost the industry more than Bt50 million.

The attack was considered a severe incident as it shook confidence among residents and tourists. It would take at least three months to revive the tourism business, according to Mr Somchart.

Meanwhile, the public and private sectors, and residents alike, in Hat Yai this morning held an multi-faith religious ceremony in front of the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel to make merit for those killed in the hotel bombing.

The authorities today began removing vehicles from the hotel’s car park, mostly cars which were not heavily damaged. It was estimated that there were 200 vehicles in the facility.

In a related development, the Southern Border Provinces Police Operation Center distributed photos and details of five stolen vehicles that may be used in future car bombings. The agency urged the public to help monitoring and alert the authorities if anyone spots any suspicious cars.

Police said among the eight stolen vehicles, three were already installed with explosive devices and used in last weekend’s car bombings -- one in Hat Yai and two in Yala on the same day.

The other five suspicious vehicles, all pickups, include a white Toyota Hilux, a green Mitsubishi L200, and three Isuzus, one brown, one bronze, one brown, and one Isuzu Gold. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-04-05

Well if you have terrorists operating in the area then I am not suprised. Oh sorrow I mean naughty people in the area, as they government said a little while ago there are no terrorists and never will be operating in Thailand. Terorism will never effect tourism in Thailand.

Well if you have terrorists operating in the area then I am not suprised. Oh sorrow I mean naughty people in the area, as they government said a little while ago there are no terrorists and never will be operating in Thailand. Terorism will never effect tourism in Thailand.

But what surprises me is why Hat Yai?

If I would be a terrorist who wants to separate areas from the South, than I make some troubles in Pattaya or Phuket or Bangkok. There is no perfect bomb required. Say 4 people are checking in in a big hotel, everyone 20 liter Diesel in the luggage. That including with the message that it will only stop after, blabla.....would have 100 times more impact.

so I question what they really want? some troubles but not too much?

I just checked Agoda (hate those people) for cheap rates in Hat Yai.....not much to be had I'm afraid..same price, bombs or no bombs...at least they haven't added a premium for additional security or 'added excitement'.....

Well if you have terrorists operating in the area then I am not suprised. Oh sorrow I mean naughty people in the area, as they government said a little while ago there are no terrorists and never will be operating in Thailand. Terorism will never effect tourism in Thailand.

But what surprises me is why Hat Yai?

If I would be a terrorist who wants to separate areas from the South, than I make some troubles in Pattaya or Phuket or Bangkok. There is no perfect bomb required. Say 4 people are checking in in a big hotel, everyone 20 liter Diesel in the luggage. That including with the message that it will only stop after, blabla.....would have 100 times more impact.

so I question what they really want? some troubles but not too much?

Could be they want to attract attention to the (deep) South itself in case international observers think it's just another muslim terrorist attack in Bangkok.

Could be they want to attract attention to the (deep) South itself in case international observers think it's just another muslim terrorist attack in Bangkok.

You need to read TVF more often. We were assured by the TVF experts in special secret sleuthing that the Iranians were actually "false flag" operatives working for Israel under the command of the Zionist manipulated Queen of England and sponsored by the Great Satan, the USA. The poor chap who who blew up was merely attempting to hail a cab.

And therein lies the predicament for regular folks just trying to be safe: As long as there are nutters about spreading false information and government officials who wish to deny that international terrorists have a safe place to operate in Thailand, any attempt at ensuring the general population's safety and in preventing future incidents will be undermined.

Have a look at the reaction of France after the terrorist murders of its soldiers and school children. They moved fast, shutting down a terror cell and deporting foreign agitators including 2 Imams. To date, although Thai security officials have arrested the alleged bombing culprits, the cell to which they belong is still not dismantled.

Well if you have terrorists operating in the area then I am not suprised. Oh sorrow I mean naughty people in the area, as they government said a little while ago there are no terrorists and never will be operating in Thailand. Terorism will never effect tourism in Thailand.

But what surprises me is why Hat Yai?

If I would be a terrorist who wants to separate areas from the South, than I make some troubles in Pattaya or Phuket or Bangkok. There is no perfect bomb required. Say 4 people are checking in in a big hotel, everyone 20 liter Diesel in the luggage. That including with the message that it will only stop after, blabla.....would have 100 times more impact.

so I question what they really want? some troubles but not too much?

Hat Yai is a popular tourist area amongst Thais and Malaysians especially at Thai holidays and gets far busier than the resorts you mentioned thats why they choose there. Whats the point in going all the way to BKK or Pattaya for less effect.

No surprise there.

Well if you have terrorists operating in the area then I am not suprised. Oh sorrow I mean naughty people in the area, as they government said a little while ago there are no terrorists and never will be operating in Thailand. Terorism will never effect tourism in Thailand.

But what surprises me is why Hat Yai?

If I would be a terrorist who wants to separate areas from the South, than I make some troubles in Pattaya or Phuket or Bangkok. There is no perfect bomb required. Say 4 people are checking in in a big hotel, everyone 20 liter Diesel in the luggage. That including with the message that it will only stop after, blabla.....would have 100 times more impact.

so I question what they really want? some troubles but not too much?

It's not the first time in Hatyai, there was a big one a few years back in the green market.

Hatyai is an economic center for the area and Thai operated less muslim, so a perfect local target.

And they can hit it without making any announcements after, clearly a bomb in the south.