How safe is it for tourists to visit the three southern provinces of Thailand?

Unfortunately not ,

@Stur****

it even tells you on most consulates to stay away from the most southern Provences

@Paul ******

But ya miss the route between there an yala 🙂

i've done a few trips entering Malaysia at Wang Prachan, down to Penang an than back up thru Betong> a lovely drive

I want head back and check out the new sky walk in Betong.

@Janin *****

thank you wow, some good data there.👍

@Janin *****

The fall in violence during the period between 2020 and roughly mid 2022 can be attributed to Covid restrictions, which in that region were some of the strictest in all of Thailand. Vaccine checkpoints were set up on major roads and only vaccinated people could pass. Masks were strictly enforced and those few who didn't comply, were fined and warned not to expose their faces in public again. The heavy military presence ensured that it was easy to implement all these restrictions, as the region was already under a state of emergency leading into Covid. So the tools they needed were already in place.

@J *****************

If you want stat, here's your stat madam.

@Nadhirah ********

mmmh my Thai friends work and live there all there life and you know better!

@Richard ********

yes especially at night

@Jo *********

I was there for a few days about 4 years ago, and it was much like rest of Thailand, quite nice and the people were friendly, but I’m not ignorant to the FACTS, of the terrorists down there and the countless murders that they have committed all for their cause to steal land from Thailand and create their own Islamic country.

@Jo *********

1000 times safer in the south than any big cities in the world

@Jo *********

Have you been in the deep south? or just read stupid stuff on it, I am over there 5 times per year and never encountered any problems, maybe a good thing is more talking negatively about it and less foreigners so us we can enjoy 100 times more

@Jo *********

Over 6000 deaths since 2004 . As i said it's been quiet for a while as there are ongoing negotiations . The targets are mostly Thai military and police but there is always a chance of an outbreak of violence if talks break down. They dont target foreigners but i wouldn't like to end up as collateral damage . It' sad and i hope to visit some day.

@Paul *******

Wrong dear boy....Pattani is a law unto itself on this....barring its nigh on impossible to find!

@Paul ******

I can now clearly see you a selective reading issue. "But then again, there arent as many farangs in the deep south as central thailand" doesnt ring a bell?

What is absurd is accusing me of having an agenda just because my opinion doesnt fit your narrative. You claim to have been thru hatyai a few times and a bomb exploded im that duration. I pass thru the south like eating rice because I have a '02' Malaysian IC and only need a border pass to go anywhere deep south and I have yet to experience such a thing. In the news, yes, over 30 years of personal experience, none. I drive from Chiang Rai to Kuala Lumpur every 3 - 4 months once and back, and Im perfectly fine. Now what agenda do you think I have in mind?

And when we say Dan Nok, it is because we really meant to say Dan Nok as Dan Nok is a small town in the district of Sadao. Not only "Malays" call it Dan Nok, even the local thais call it that when they want to specific.

Also to say that there are no bombings above hatyai is a blanket statement as there were bombings in quite a few places, doesnt have to be for the same reasons but bombings are bombings. Shootings also happen from time to time in Chiang Rai as we are near the Myanmar border where drugs and weapons go in and out, so acccording to your reasoning, Chiang Rai is a dangerous place? Thats absurd. To say that it NEVER happens above hatyai is totally false. Every place in thailand has its own risks depending on what is going on, but I dont rank the deep south as being more dangerous than other places statistically. Your opinion might differ but I stand by what I said.

@Paul ******

FYI, Sadao is the district. Ban Dannok (or Dan Nok) is the actual border town. Malaysian men coming for quick fun don't venture north of Dannok into Sadao proper.

@Paul ******

There are many foreigners living there: mostly Filipinos, Africans and a lot of Arabs. Narathiwat even has an American community of missionaries. Never heard of any of them getting in trouble with insurgents.

@Paul ******

I'd never live in Pattaya or Bangkok, or Chiang Mai/far north for that matter, due to a variety of reasons. The south suits me best.

@Paul ******

As sad as something like that is, it doesn't make it more dangerous for a random person. Since the last few years the violence has subsided significantly. I would feel less safe in a place like Pattaya than I do in Narathiwat.

@Paul ******

totally agree. My point is it is personal experience. Some might find it a dangerous place and some don't, also, like you said, depending on where you go and what you do. It's a question that can't be answered objectively.

@Jo**

Yeah well, no one wants to experience that. The Burmese often downplay all the regular violence that goes on in their region of the country (or elsewhere) but they're used to calamity. People from other parts of the world are not. Tourists shouldn't go places where there is a risk of getting gunned down in the crossfire of an attack or there's a chance of a car bomb going off while they're walking to the market.

@Jo**

This

@Yorgos *************

it’s quite dangerous in my opinion. You can visit but not guarantee it’s 100 % safe. In Pattanee province has Ko Losin you can diving for see Sharks and mantas. Narativas it’s good for trekking in the wild, it’s name Halabala mountain. And Yala the most famous is Betong it’s mostly safe in this 3 provinces. All of this you should go by private car and it’s better not stay some place for long time.

@Jo**

That was years back. Do you know how many minivans cross the region every day?

@Billy ******

Possible risk of attack or just a lot of inconvenience. Lots of passport/ID checking.

Foreigners traveling in the region will be subject to extra scrutiny. This can be reduced by traveling by car.

@Yorgos *************

it's not a secret as you have published it on Facebook. It was a joke.

@Yorgos *************

I have several friends there right now, peace and quiet.

I wouldn't worry.

@Paul ******

I concur. I drove from Surat Thani to Malaysia down the east coast a few years ago and there were army checkpoints all the way down. Difficult to relax; and yeah, daylight only!

@Daniel *********

The governments' official sites, easy to find

@Daniel *********

Pattani is one of 4 provinces we are advised not to travel to, along with Songkhla, Yala and Narathiwat