Satun Governor Dejrat Simsiri Interview: Perlis Satun Bridge Construction and tourism in Satun
Satun Governor Dejrat Simsiri Interview: Perlis Satun Bridge Construction and tourism in Satun
Satun just held the Satun 35th International Kite Festival 2015. There, I met and interview a few VIPs which include Tourism Authority of Trang (TAT) director of Trang and also Governor of Satun, Mr. Dejrat Simsiri.
I sat down with Governor and asked him about his plans of promoting Satun as a tourist destination for Malaysians.
For those who are not familiar with Satun, it is a province in Southern Thailand and it borders Malaysia state Perlis. Satun is blessed with lush forest and a number of beautiful islands. Even though Satun is near Perlis but many Malaysians are still not familiar with this place.
To visit Satun, the best way is to self drive via Wang Kelian border in Perlis. You can also reach Satun from Hatyai or speedboat from Langkawi Island.
Governor Dejrat Simsiri pointed out three main points in promoting Satun; the sea, the land and the culture.
For the sea, the governor is referring the beautiful islands sitting in the Andaman Sea such as Koh Lipe. Koh Lipe is one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand and locals called it, the Maldives of Thailand. The small island blessed with white sandy beaches is a top destination for the locals and for Malaysians too. To go to Koh Lipe, you can take a speedboat from Pak Bara in Satun or Langkawi in Malaysia.
The Tarutao Islands might not be as popular as Koh Lipe but they are hidden gems too.
For land, the governor is trying to promote the natural beauty of Satun. You can do activities such as white water rafting and also sea cave kayaking. The biggest cave in Thailand is also located in Satun, it is called Phu Pha Phet Cave.
For culture, Satun is populated with 90% Muslims and most of them can speak Malay. They have a similar culture to Kedah and Perlis and you can find Halal food easily in Satun. Seafood in Satun is cheaper too compare to other Southern Thailand provinces.
Lastly, the governor did mention that there will be a Perlis Satun bridge to be in place in the upcoming years. So far a MOU was signed between Satun and Perlis on this project. The new highway will make traveling to both countries easier and it will definitely boost tourism and business in the long run.
Thank you Tourism Authority of Thailand Malaysia for inviting me and also Tourism of Trang for the great hospitality.
