Hat Yai’s tourism sector has ground to a halt with “the heaviest single day of rainfall in 300 years” on November 21 as termed by Thailand’s Royal Irrigation Department submerges the province of Songkhla in its most severe flood since the year 2000, crippling transport links, and leaving upwards of 7,000 foreign leisure tourists and business visitors – mostly Malaysians and Singaporeans – stranded in a situation that is worsening by the hour.

Thai Hotels Association (THA) president Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun said operators are facing an unpredictable and fast-moving situation.

“We are trying to coordinate and move tourists out of the affected areas as quickly as possible, but there are still many who remain stranded. In the past day or so the water levels dropped, but then they suddenly rose again. Some tourists even entered the area during that window, only to find themselves trapped,” he said.

With Hat Yai’s transport access cut off, and most of the sector non-operational, bookings have collapsed.

“Malaysian tourists have cancelled their bookings, and there is barely any business left. We do not expect hotels in the area to reopen until after December 15 or even December 20, depending on how quickly the water recedes and debris can be cleared,” Thienprasit added.

According to Sitthiphong Sitthiphatprapha, president of the Hat Yai Songkhla Hotels Association, tourism has come to a complete standstill.

“Only about 10 per cent of hotels are still open, and those properties are not open for commercial stays. They are sheltering travellers who are waiting for a way to return home,” he said.

Recovery timelines will depend on the severity of damage in each location.

“In some areas, the entire first storey has been flooded and will need to be fully renovated. Other areas have only had their floors inundated, but all of them will require time to recover before they can reopen,” he noted.

This is a heavy blow, as Songkhla, one of Thailand’s three cluster venues alongside Bangkok and Chonburi, was set to host nine sports during the SEA Games 2025 from December 9 to 20.

The Sports Authority of Thailand indicated yesterday (November 25) it will be required to shuffle the locations or relocate certain competitions to Bangkok, as at least one venue and some access roads in the province are now submerged.

Flights continue to operate at Hat Yai International Airport, although the airport has advised all travellers to plan their transportation accordingly and allow extra time when travelling to or from the airport.

Airlines have introduced relief measures for affected travellers.

Thai AirAsia is offering one free flight change for travel between November 22 and 28, 2025, with rebookings allowed within 30 days subject to seat availability, or the option to convert the full fare into a travel credit valid for two years.

Other airlines that have activated flexible rebooking conditions include Thai Vietjet Air, Nok Air, Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways.

Sitthiphong stated that the Hat Yai Songkhla Hotels Association has submitted a full list of local hotels in dire need of help, each sheltering anywhere from dozens to hundreds of stranded tourists, to the relevant government agencies.

He added that although assistance has begun, support on the ground remains unclear, poorly coordinated, and not yet fast enough to match the scale of the crisis.

“Our most urgent request right now is help for the stranded tourists. They need to be evacuated as soon as possible, otherwise they need food and essential supplies immediately. This event is a natural disaster, and they are relying on the Thai government to assist them,” Sitthiphong underscored.

A spokesperson for the Kusoldham Phuket Foundation, a local charity coordinating with the hospitality sector, said they hope water levels will fall by this weekend, which would allow rescue teams and relief to reach affected areas more easily.