[KatoeyLover69]

Originally Posted by habbomall

hatyai having rain everydays. the shop there still have not recover. they are palning to open it before loy krathong. alot of hotel from full booking to empty. tour guide is waiting for goods news from thai gov for loy karthong alot of ppl also on hold.

Report from Bangkok Post dated friday 12 November 2010 :-

Businesses in Hat Yai still reeling from deluge

The floods in Hat Yai have receded but the business sector there is still reeling from the deluge which left the South's commercial hub with an estimated damage bill of 10 billion baht.

Montree Phupichayaphan, assistant manager of Pithan Panich Co, a Toyota dealer in Hat Yai, said yesterday about 160 customers whose vehicles were damaged by the floods were filing insurance claims with the company.

The number of such vehicles this year is fewer than during the floods in 2000 but the claim amounts are higher because vehicles these days are more sophisticated and expensive. Insurance premiums have also increased.

Viriyah Insurance, which has a deal with Toyota, said there had been 600 insurance claims for flood-damaged Toyota vehicles in Songkhla, not to mention claims for other marques.

Viriyah Insurance estimates the total cost of damage to vehicles at about 100 million baht, Mr Montree said.

Kawispong Sirithonnontsakul, managing director of K&K Super Wholesale Hat Yai (2009) Co, reckoned the floods inflicted about 5 billion baht of damage upon Hat Yai's retail sector.

He said four branches of K&K had been ruined by the floods, costing the company about 129 million baht. Three Tops supermarkets _ in the basements of Central, Robinson and Diana department stores _ were devastated.

Forty-two 7-Eleven convenience stores in Hat Yai were hit by the floods and are now closed for repairs.

The damage to convenience stores is thought to reach 120 million baht. The flooding has also inflicted an estimated 100 million baht in damage to several small grocery stores in Hat Yai, Mr Kawispong said.

Jaturapat Tanthanawong, managing director of AT Motor Sales, a dealer of Yamaha motorcycles in Hat Yai, said three branches of the company had suffered damage worth 6 million baht.

He said more than 5,000 motorcyles of all brands had been ruined by the flooding.

Mr Jaturapat said the flood warning system in Hat Yai needed an overhaul. A more effective flood warning system was needed so business operators had enough time to move their merchandise to safety.

"The flood warning measures are slow and lack a clear direction," he said.

Flood alerts must be issued at least eight hours in advance and a flood warning centre should be set up in Hat Yai to coordinate warning efforts and provide accurate alerts, Mr Jaturapat said.

Hat Yai Hotels Association president Somchart Pimthanapoonporn estimated the cost of the damage to Hat Yai's hotel industry at 2 billion to 3 billion baht.

Mr Somchart said at least two weeks would be needed before the hotel industry in Hat Yai recovered fully.

"My Sakura Hotel has suffered damage worth about 10 million baht. The floods submerged the basement and first [ground] floor of the hotel." Mr Somchart said. An ineffective flood alert system was to blame, he said.

Songkhla's Real Estate Association president Thanawat Poonsilp said the floods cost the property business in Hat Yai 5 billion baht.--- KatoeyNewsNetwork