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Malaysians flock to Thailand for halal food and shopping, Kelantan businesses take a hit
Thailand’s southern Hatyai province has long been a popular holiday destination for Malaysians living near the border
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Over 100,000 Malaysians have crossed into Thailand’s southern provinces for a three-day holiday that ended on Monday, drawn by online recommendations of halal food and Thai products.
Yet Thailand’s gain was Malaysia’s loss, said retail and food operators based near the northern border, who lamented the lack of visitors to their shops and restaurants.
Long popular with Malaysians living along the border, the post-pandemic wanderlust driven by social media has drawn Malaysians from as far away as Kuala Lumpur to skip usual destinations like Penang and Ipoh and drive a few hours further north to Thailand’s southern region.
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Hatyai, Thailand’s fifth-largest city with a population of almost 500,000, is a popular destination for many Malaysians who want to savour Thai dishes promoted by influencers and shop for cosmetics, clothes, home decor and kitchenware unavailable in domestic shops.
“Hatyai has many things that Bangkok has to offer but you can drive there for a day trip,” said Ariani Ishak, a pharmacist from Kuala Lumpur.
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“It’s familiar but also exotic at the same time.”
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