Pix by Sharifah Mahsinah Abdullah
SUNGAI GOLOK: Heavy congestion at Malaysia-Thailand checkpoints in northern Malaysian peninsular states prompted some tourists to enter the kingdom from Kelantan instead.
This resulted in a sudden increase to more than 12,000 Malaysian tourists visiting southern Thailand in a two-day period.
This figure was recorded by Thailand Immigration Department on Saturday and yesterday (Sept 15), at its three checkpoints bordering Kelantan.
According to the department's spokesman, the checkpoint in Sungai Golok which borders with Rantau Panjang, Kelantan, recorded the highest number at more than 8,000 visitors.
He said the other two checkpoints in Buketa which borders Bukit Bunga in Tanah Merah recorded 2,500 visitors. The entry point in Tak Bai, which is opposite Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat recorded 1,700 visitors.
"There was a sudden increase in the number of Malaysian tourists visiting southern Thailand in a two-day period beginning Saturday.
"Due to the back-to-back weekend and public holidays of Malaysia Day/Maulidur Rasul i which coincided with the school holidays, many Malaysians choose to enter Thailand via Kelantan due to the heavy congestion in the country's checkpoints especially in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah," said the spokesman.
The spokesman, however, said no untoward incidents happened to Malaysian tourists during their immigration documentation processes at the three Thai checkpoints.
"Their documentation process to enter Thailand went smoothly, except for those who travelled on their own transportation. They need to wait for a while for documents to be issued by the Thai Customs officers," said the spokesman.
Malaysian Rozana Ibrahim, 32, and her husband Mohd Ikram Kamaruddin, 34, said they travelled from Kedah and used the Rantau Panjang checkpoint to go to Narathiwat.
"For us, it is better to spend time travelling to Kelantan rather than facing the traffic jam in Bukit Kayu Hitam. At the same time, we can also visit Kelantan," said the housewife who was travelling with the couple's three children.
Malaysian Consul-General in Songkhla Ahmad Fahmi Ahmad Sarkawi had recently said an everage of 15,000 to 20,000 Malaysian tourists are expected to enter Thailand in a day in conjunction with Malaysia Day and the school holidays.
He had said that Hatyai and Songkhla were the favourite spots for Malaysian tourists.
Fahmi added that a majority of Malaysian tourists would enter Thailand via the Sadao-Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint, while other tourists use the checkpoints in Padang Besar, Sungai Golok and Betong.
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