Government to Develop Songkhla as Marine Tourism Center

The Government will develop the southern province of Songkhla as a marine tourism center, connecting its tourism routes with other provinces in the same manner as Phuket, in order to distribute wealth to the regional areas of the country.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited the Songkhla Old Town during her visit to Songkhla on 17-18 February 2025 for a mobile Cabinet meeting. She said that the old town represents a major symbol of this province and that coordination would be made to help local authorities organize various activities to attract more tourist arrivals.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of tourism infrastructure development, as well as improvements of transportation routes, lighting in tourist sites, and early warning systems to create more confident among tourists. 

She assigned relevant agencies to take appropriate action on these issues, saying that joint efforts by the public and private sectors were required to move Songkhla toward becoming a high-end tourism destination and being recognized at the international level.

Songkhla Province reflects a harmonious mixture of Thai, Chinese, and Muslim cultures. In the past, the province was well-known among Chinese, Indian, and Persian merchants trading in the area. This port city was renowned as a stopover for overseas traders wishing to escape the strong monsoon. It possessed a unique identity as a multicultural society.

The province has great potential for tourism growth. It has many things to offer visitors and residents alike, such as delicious food, beautiful scenery, and recreational activities. Hat Yai District, in particular, is the best-known business center in the southern region of Thailand. Recognized as a popular shopping venue, Hat Yai offers numerous kinds of local and imported products at low prices. The annual Chinese New Year festival is an important tradition for the local residents of Hat Yai, because the area is home to one of the largest Thai-Chinese communities in Thailand.

Songkhla welcomes a great number of foreign tourists each year, especially, Malaysian, Singaporean, and Indonesian visitors. In 2024, more than seven million Thai and foreign tourists visited Songkhla, representing an increase of 24.5 percent over 2023.