Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has scheduled travel to Songkhla on Friday to meet local business leaders and discuss measures to prevent a repeat of the devastating floods that struck Hat Yai late last year, as concerns mount ahead of the coming rainy season.
Speaking on Thursday, Sitthipong Sitthiphataraprabha, president of the Hat Yai–Songkhla Hotels Association, expressed growing anxiety that the government’s flood prevention plans for Hat Yai remain unclear, despite six months having passed since last year's major flooding, which severely disrupted the city’s economy and tourism sector.
Mr Sittipong also mentioned financial assistance measures, such as low-interest loans for affected businesses, which Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul promised during his delegation's visit to Hat Yai after water levels lowered, saying such aid has yet to be implemented.
He added that four Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) MPs for Songkhla gathered proposals from the private sector and submitted them to the government in March, but no clear response or progress has been communicated.
According to association president, the government should have flood prevention measures in place instead of providing post-disaster compensation. He noted business owners are not seeking financial assistance, because it is not worthwhile to repeatedly rebuild businesses after flooding.
Without effective solutions, he warned, flooding could become a major weakness for Hat Yai’s future development and undermine investor and tourist confidence.
During Mr Phiphat's visit to Songkhla on Friday, he has been scheduled to join a discussion with the Songkhla Joint Public-Private Consultative Committee following the body's call for a budget of 2.2 billion baht for flood prevention projects in Hat Yai.
Meanwhile, Deputy Interior Minister Jeseth Thaiseth presided over a disaster management exercise in Songkhla as part of the 2026 national flood response drill. The exercise was organised by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation following lessons learned from last year's severe flooding in the province.
Mr Jeseth stressed that such drills are essential because long-term budget allocations for flood prevention projects may not arrive in time this year, due to their complexity and the need for coordination among several agencies.
He urged all officials to remain fully prepared, describing natural disasters as “the enemy” and emergency preparedness exercises as “the strategy” needed to reduce losses and protect lives.
