SONGKHLA - The Thai border town that hosts an old — and still operational — border checkpoint with Malaysia has seen business fall off sharply since a new checkpoint opened just a kilometre away.
Dan Nok has turned from a place where Malaysian visitors stopped to shop and spend to a place they bypass, according to Natcha Tiew, president of the Dan Nok Business Association.
Shops, restaurants, hotels and other businesses in the town have been affected since the second, bigger checkpoint linking Sadao district with Kedah state in Malaysia opened last month, she said.
The new checkpoint has been operational since July 11, after an official opening ceremony by the Thai and Malaysian prime ministers a day earlier.
Trucks are required to use the new crossing, which was created in order to reduce bottlenecks at the smaller Dan Nok checkpoint. Buses and cars are strongly encouraged to continue using Dan Nok, but this has not turned out to be the case.
As a result, businesses in Dan Nok are reporting declines of up to 80% in earnings since the opening of the new checkpoint, said Ms Natcha.
She blamed understaffing at the old checkpoint, which results in traffic congestion, especially during long weekends when Malaysians travel to Hat Yai city.
When Malaysian drivers see a long line of vehicles waiting at the old checkpoint, they make a U-turn to use the new one, she said.
Malaysian drivers normally stopped for meals and other breaks before or after passing the old Sadao checkpoint. Many stayed overnight there for entertainment and other activities, instead of going to Hat Yai district.
With the new crossing now available, Dan Nok is no longer on their itinerary because it is not on the new road to the new checkpoint.
Sitthipong Sitthiphataraprabha, president of the Hat Yai Songkhla Hotels Association, admitted business activity was declining in the border town.
He called for more personnel to be stationed at the old checkpoint to handle vehicles from and to Malaysia, instead of concentrating only at the new crossing.
