Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) officially launched the 2026 Hat Yai Expatriate Tourism Fair at the Hat Yai Central Shopping Center on January 30, 2026. The fair, running until February 1, leverages the "Travel South" campaign to focus on enhancing the attractiveness of southern Thailand to expatriates and long-term tourists, thereby stimulating regional tourism consumption demand.
The opening ceremony was successfully held from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, presided over by the Deputy Governor of Songkhla Province. The Consul General in Songkhla, international representatives, government agencies, private sector partners, tourism operators, and media representatives gathered to celebrate the event, demonstrating the close collaboration among all parties in promoting southern Thailand as an international tourism destination.
Ms. Vajanan Silpawongwivat, Executive Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand for the Southern Region, stated that this Hat Yai Expatriate Tourism Fair fulfills the Tourism Authority of Thailand's commitment to making southern Thailand a convenient and diverse travel destination for expatriates and long-term tourists. By building a platform connecting tourism businesses, local communities, and international tourists, this exhibition moves beyond simply pursuing tourist numbers, focusing instead on promoting in-depth interaction, fostering meaningful travel experiences, driving high-quality consumption, and injecting lasting vitality into the regional economy.
This exhibition brings together numerous tourism operators from Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, and Koh Samui, offering special deals on hotel accommodations and travel packages with discounts up to 50%. Limited-time flash sales and exclusive offers are also available during the exhibition, providing visitors with convenient and immediate purchasing channels.
In addition to promoting tourism resources, the exhibition incorporates unique cultural elements of southern Thailand. Through live performances such as Peranakan dance, and hands-on workshops on chocolate making and beadwork (with on-site guidance from Songkhla artisans), the exhibition comprehensively showcases the region's unique cultural charm, enhances its cultural tourism appeal, and creates an immersive cultural tourism experience for both domestic and international tourists.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects the exhibition to attract over 2,000 visitors and generate more than 8 million baht in economic benefits. This not only confirms Hat Yai's status as an important economic and tourism center but also demonstrates its ability to host international-scale events, which will further contribute to the continued high-quality development of the cultural and tourism industry in southern Thailand.
