Music is the food of love for TAT festival in Hat Yai this weekend

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is rolling out the red carpet for a spectacular celebration of art, music, and culture in southern Thailand with the HATYAI OUTLOUD festival. Scheduled from August 30 to September 1, this vibrant event will light up the Robinson Department Store parking lot and the Sino-European Building Sai 1 on Niphat Uthit 1 Road in Hat Yai City, Songkhla province.

The festival promises to transform its historic host district into a bustling, colourful hub where visitors can dive into a rich array of activities—all completely free of charge. The festival will run from 4pm to 11pm on each of the three days, featuring a lively mix of mini-concerts with top Thai bands like Paradox, Musketeers, and Lomosonic. Attendees can also enjoy cultural workshops, beautifully adorned photo spots, and a feast of local delicacies from renowned street food vendors.

TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool highlights that nearly 70% of Malaysian tourists enter Thailand via land borders, with Songkhla, Betong, and Satun emerging as key gateways. Hat Yai, in particular, is a popular destination for Malaysian visitors, thanks to its easy accessibility by both air and land. Thapanee also noted that the extension of the Immigration Form TM6 exemption at the Sadao checkpoint further simplifies entry, boosting the convenience for travellers.

With a projected 3.2 million Malaysian tourists expected to visit Thailand by the end of the month, Malaysia remains the country’s second-largest source market after China, reported Travel Daily Media.

In related news, TAT unveiled its 2025 marketing plan to revitalise Thai tourism. The annual TAT Strategic Direction conference was a star-studded affair, featuring Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports H.E. Sermsak Pongpanit, and TAT’s Chairperson of the Board Natthriya Thaweevong.

TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool declared that recognising 2025 as another challenging year, TAT will be putting its best efforts into driving demand and shaping supply to accelerate Thailand’s tourism ecosystem.