BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand completed the rescue of 1,812 foreign tourists from flood-hit southern provinces as waters receded and authorities shifted to large-scale cleanup.
Rescue mission in the south declared complete
Tourism Minister Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn confirmed on Saturday that all 1,812 foreign tourists affected by the flooding had been brought to safety after six days of operations.
“There are no new reports of stranded tourists in flooded areas in the south,”
said Atthakorn, tourism minister. The transport networks in the affected regions were largely restored.
Water levels fall across nine provinces
The disaster prevention agency reported a continuous decline in water levels in all nine impacted provinces: Songkhla, Satun, Yala, Pattani, Phatthalung, Narathiwat, Surat Thani, Trang and Nakhon Si Thammarat. In Songkhla, the hardest-hit province, a so-called “Big Cleaning Day” was already under way, with heavy machinery deployed to remove mud and debris. Cleanup work in Hat Yai was expected to take at least a week.
Transport and tourism begin gradual recovery
Early signs of recovery for tourism emerged as boats between Pak Bara Pier and Ko Lipe in Satun resumed normal operations. Local tour operators organized transfers to Hat Yai airport to support onward travel. In Surat Thani, boat services to major tourist destinations were operating again despite small waves, while the road link between Yala and Betong was passable, though caution was still advised in steep areas.
Authorities urge travelers to stay informed
Atthakorn advised visitors to continue following updates from official channels as some regions still needed time for full recovery.
“The safety of our guests is the top priority,”
said Atthakorn, tourism minister, highlighting that Thai authorities had significantly improved their crisis response. Officials described the successful rescue of more than 1,800 tourists as proof of effective cooperation among all emergency services.
Tourism sector enters crucial recovery phase
After one of the most severe flood disasters in recent years, normality was slowly returning to the south. While cleanup in Hat Yai continued at full speed, other areas were already preparing to welcome visitors again. For Thailand’s tourism industry, one of the country’s most important sources of income, this marked a critical recovery period as the sector sought to rebuild confidence following the floods.