TAT Forecasts Strong Tourism Growth for Songkhla in Final Months of 2026

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has released a positive outlook for tourism in Songkhla province for the final two months of 2026. According to the agency, the region is expected to welcome more than 900,000 visitors, contributing an estimated 7.5 billion baht to the local economy. This forecast follows an October 2026 hotel occupancy rate of 73 percent, which saw a slight year-on-year decline. Officials attribute this minor dip to the timing of Malaysia's Deepavali festival, which shifted into November this year, thereby impacting October's travel patterns. Addressing concerns raised by the Hat Yai Hotel Association regarding low advance booking figures—reported at approximately 10 percent—the TAT clarified that these numbers represent only early reservations and do not reflect the total expected demand for the upcoming peak season. For travelers and residents, this suggests that while early booking data may appear modest, the province anticipates a significant influx of visitors as the year concludes. The actual impact of the Deepavali shift on November's tourism performance remains to be confirmed as the peak travel period progresses.