Newly opened road linking the Sadao Customs House in Songkhla Province with the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint in Kedah, Malaysia. (Tourism Authority of Thailand)
On July 13, Thailand officially opened a new road linking the Sadao Customs House in Songkhla Province with the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint in Kedah, Malaysia, marking a significant step towards improving cross-border tourism, trade and regional connectivity.
The road was inaugurated on 10 July by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The ceremony was attended by senior ministers and officials from both governments, including Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool.
According to TAT, the new connection supports the government’s Ease of Travelling policy and cooperation under the Indonesia–Malaysia–Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT). The infrastructure is expected to reduce travel times, encourage more overland tourism and strengthen southern Thailand’s role as a gateway linking Thailand with Malaysia and Singapore.
TAT Governor Thapanee said the project has the potential to transform the Sadao crossing into a regional tourism corridor by providing easier access to Hat Yai and other destinations across southern Thailand. Improved connectivity should encourage visitors to stay longer, spend more and explore a wider range of destinations, reflecting TAT’s Value over Volume strategy, which prioritises sustainable economic benefits over visitor numbers alone, she affirmed.
In addition, TAT is preparing to launch its New Hat Yai campaign, inviting Malaysian opinion leaders to promote fresh travel experiences in Hat Yai while introducing nearby destinations such as Phatthalung, Trang and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Malaysia remains Thailand’s second-largest international source market after China, recording more than 2.14 million visitor arrivals between January 1 and July 8, 2026, with a yearly target of 4.83 million arrivals.
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