Hat Yai Visitor Nationalities 2025 — Top 10 Countries & Stats
Hat Yai is one of Thailand’s most interesting regional tourism success stories. In 2025 the city and Songkhla province saw huge cross-border flows — especially from Malaysia — and the pattern of visitors tells an important story for travellers and local businesses.
Quick takeaway: For the Jan–8 June 2025 period, official provincial figures show Malaysian arrivals (~2,041,002) slightly outpaced Chinese arrivals (~2,029,481) in Songkhla province — underlining Hat Yai’s role as a top destination for Malaysian weekenders and shoppers. Sources at end.
Table of contents
- Top 10 nationalities visiting Hat Yai & Songkhla (2025)
- Key numbers & evidence
- Infographic: Top visitors (visual)
- Why Hat Yai attracts these nationalities
- Travel tips & where to stay
- Sources & further reading
- FAQ
Top 10 nationalities visiting Hat Yai & Songkhla (2025)
Below is a data-driven top-10 list focused on Hat Yai city and the surrounding Songkhla province. Where exact official counts exist, they are shown and cited. Where only directional/booking data exist, the entry is marked estimate / provisional.
| Rank | Nationality | Notes / Count (if available) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malaysia | Official (Songkhla, Jan 1–Jun 8, 2025): ~2,041,002 arrivals. Massive weekend & day-trip flows to Hat Yai — 5k weekdays, ~10k weekends, up to ~20k/day at holiday peaks. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} |
| 2 | China | Official (Songkhla, Jan 1–Jun 8, 2025): ~2,029,481 arrivals. China remains one of the top country sources for Thailand overall. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} |
| 3 | Singapore | Provisional: consistent Airbnb & booking data show Singapore is Hat Yai’s #3 market by share of international short-term stays; Airbnb snapshots show Singapore ~8% of international guests in Hat Yai listings. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2} |
| 4 | Indonesia | Estimate / regional visitor. Frequently listed among top ASEAN source markets for southern Thailand (no central, single Hat Yai count located). :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3} |
| 5 | India | Estimate — India ranks high among Thailand source markets nationally; for Hat Yai it is smaller than the nearby ASEAN markets but still shows up in travel data. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4} |
| 6 | South Korea | Reported as a steady source for regional Thai destinations including Hat Yai in booking/OTA data. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5} |
| 7 | Japan | Smaller but regular source of visitors, often in higher-spend segments. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6} |
| 8 | Other ASEAN (e.g. Vietnam / Brunei / Laos) | Combined smaller flows; shows up in hotel bookings & regional tourism campaigns. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7} |
| 9 | Domestic Thai visitors | Not a foreign nationality but important: domestic traveller numbers to Songkhla & Hat Yai are large and often seasonal. (Local data & hotel occupancy reports). :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8} |
| 10 | Western countries (UK / US / Europe) | Smaller share compared with Asian regional neighbours; present in hotel data but not dominant for Hat Yai specifically. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9} |
Notes on methodology: the two clearest official counts we located are provincial Songkhla arrival figures (Malaysia vs China for Jan–8 Jun 2025). Other ranks use OTA/booking snapshots (Airbnb/Agoda), hotel reopening / occupancy reports, and tourism authority statements. Where data are estimates, the post clearly marks them as such. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
Key numbers & evidence
- Malaysia (Songkhla, Jan 1–Jun 8, 2025): ~2,041,002 arrivals. This provincial official tally indicates Malaysians slightly outnumbered Chinese for that period. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
- China (Songkhla, Jan 1–Jun 8, 2025): ~2,029,481 arrivals. China remains a leading source market for Thailand overall. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
- Airbnb / short-term rentals: market analytics (AirROI and listings snapshots) show a very high share of Malaysian guests in Hat Yai short-term rental data — often reported as the dominant international origin. (See AirROI market snapshots.) :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
- Hat Yai’s “best value” and affordability — recent OTA/Agoda reporting ranks Hat Yai among Asia’s best-value cities in 2025, helping drive cross-border weekend trips. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
- Thailand national totals (context): As of early September 2025 Thailand reported ~22.39 million foreign visitors YTD (Jan–7 Sep 2025) and China and Malaysia are again the largest source markets nationally. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
Infographic: Top visitors (visual)
Below is an editable SVG bar chart showing the most reliable counts we have (Malaysia vs China) and a visual rank for the rest (estimates where exact counts were not public).
Why Hat Yai attracts these nationalities (short explanation)
- Proximity to Malaysia: Hat Yai sits close to the Thai–Malaysia border; road trips and short weekend stays from Malaysia are extremely common. This explains the very high Malaysian numbers. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
- Affordability & shopping: Hat Yai is often ranked among Asia’s best-value cities (Agoda/OTA reports). That fuels short shopping & food trips. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
- Direct air/rail links: Hat Yai has good transport links — airports, trains and buses — making it easy for neighbouring markets (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia) to visit. (Transport guides & local recommendations). :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}
- Market / culinary scene: Kim Yong market, night bazaars and local food are a huge draw for regional visitors. (Local attraction pages & photos).
Travel tips & where to stay (affiliate picks)
Below are recommended hotels you can link to directly on your pages (affiliate links provided in your prompt). These are popular options for Hat Yai travellers.
Need a transport guide? See Complete transport guide for trains, planes, buses and transfers to Koh Lipe & Pak Bara. (Includes tips for airport transfers and train routes.)
Sources & further reading
Key source links used in this article (click to open):
- Malaysian Tourists Overtake Chinese Visitors in Songkhla — ASEAN NOW (Songkhla Jan-8 Jun 2025 figures). :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}
- Thailand records 7% y/y drop in foreign visitors so far in 2025 — Reuters (context on national arrivals). :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}
- Hat Yai ranked among Asia’s best-value cities — Nation Thailand / Agoda data. :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}
- AirROI short-term rental analytics (Airbnb data snapshots referenced for Hat Yai market share). :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}
- Hat Yai City — local photos, hotel links and prompts (user-supplied assets referenced in this post). :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}
- Hat Yai International Airport (official) — airport & transfer guidance. :contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}
- Nation Thailand — notes on daily / weekend Malaysian flows to Hat Yai (weekend spikes & holiday peaks). :contentReference[oaicite:26]{index=26}
SEO: Hat Yai Visitor Nationalities 2025 — Top 10 Countries & Stats
SEO Title: Hat Yai Visitor Nationalities 2025 — Top 10 Countries & Stats
Discover the top 10 nationalities visiting Hat Yai and Songkhla in 2025, official counts (Malaysia vs China), booking trends, travel tips and hotel picks. Data, chart and sources.
FAQ — Top questions travellers & readers ask
- 1. Which country sends the most visitors to Hat Yai in 2025?
- Official Songkhla provincial figures for Jan–8 Jun 2025 show Malaysians at ~2,041,002 arrivals — just ahead of Chinese visitors at ~2,029,481 — making Malaysia the largest single source market for that period. :contentReference[oaicite:27]{index=27}
- 2. Why are Malaysians such a big portion of Hat Yai’s visitors?
- Hat Yai’s proximity to Malaysia, cheap shopping, strong transport links and weekend-friendly travel options (car, bus, short flights) attract large numbers of Malaysian weekenders and day-trippers. :contentReference[oaicite:28]{index=28}
- 3. Are the numbers for China still high?
- Yes — China remains a top source market for Thailand and for Songkhla in 2025 the Chinese arrival count was similarly high (≈2.03M in the Jan–8 Jun window). National totals confirm China as a leading source. :contentReference[oaicite:29]{index=29}
- 4. Is Hat Yai safe and good for first-time travellers?
- Hat Yai is a popular regional city with strong tourist infrastructure (hotels, markets, food). Normal travel precautions apply. Refer to official travel advisories for your nationality before travel. (Check your embassy updates and Hat Yai airport/transport guidance.) :contentReference[oaicite:30]{index=30}
- 5. When should I avoid Hat Yai if I want fewer crowds?
- Avoid major Malaysian long weekends and holiday peaks (e.g., Christmas/New Year, public holidays) — data show weekend and peak holiday daily arrivals spike (weekdays ~5k Malaysians; weekends ~10k; peak holidays ~20k/day). Plan midweek visits for quieter experiences. :contentReference[oaicite:31]{index=31}
