RANTAU PANJANG: The 300 baht (RM38.65) travel tax on foreign tourists planned by the Thai government will not stop Malaysians from visiting the kingdom, especially during long holidays.
Malaysian consul-general in Songkhla Ahmad Fahmi Ahmad Sarkawi said he believed Malaysians would continue going to Thailand, particularly Hat Yai and Songkhla, which were their favourite destinations.
He said many Malaysians had chosen to visit southThailand during the Deepavali holidays and the number was expected to reach nearly 300,000 this year.
"If you ask me honestly, l will say the planned 300 baht travel tax on foreign tourists will not prevent Malaysians from going to Thailand.
"Although the new tax is still under review, l believe it will not be a problem for Malaysians as more than 60 per cent of them travelled to Thailand via land routes.
"This can be seen with the drastic increase in the number of Malaysian tourists flocking to Thai holiday destinations every time there is a school or public holiday.
"Like previous holidays, this Deepavali, which began on Wednesday, is expected to see nearly 300,000 Malaysians visiting the kingdom," he added.
Fahmi advised Malaysians not to forget to bring along the necessary documents when travelling in Thailand.
"I would like to remind Malaysian travellers to bring important documents, such as the original grant of their vehicles if they want to drive there, and also not forget to apply for Thai vehicle insurance coverage.
"This will help them in case any accidents happen while they are in Thailand. Another message that l want to remind them is to follow the speed limit set by the Thai authorities while driving along its highways.
"I have been informed that Malaysians like to speed on Thai highways. Their acts cause a risk to Thai motorcyclists, especially at U-turn areas," he added.
He reminded Malaysian motorists to take precautions while driving in the kingdom this weekend due to the rainy weather.
"The Thai Meteorology Department has predicted that heavy rains will hit the southern part of the country this week and next week.
"Therefore, l hope Malaysian tourists will be more careful while driving in the kingdom," he added.