Rantau Panjang traders optimistic school holidays will boost sales despite Narathiwat incident
PASIR MAS: Concerns among residents in the border area following a security incident in Narathiwat, Thailand, have not deterred traders in Rantau Panjang from hoping for an influx in visitors during the nine-day school holiday that began yesterday.
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Residents in the border area of Rantau Panjang, Malaysia, remain optimistic about a potential boost in sales during the upcoming nine-day school holidays, despite a recent security incident in Narathiwat, Thailand. The incident, which included bombings, burning of local government offices, and tyre-burning, led to a curfew in Narathiwat province from 10.15pm to 5am.
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A Bernama survey conducted at the Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex (ICQS) and surrounding areas found that conditions remained under control on the second day of the school holidays. Traders expressed hope for an increase in visitors over the weekend and ahead of National Day on August 31. Food and Thai products trader Afifa Umar, 42, stated that while visitor numbers are currently lower than before, the school holidays give her hope of increased income as more people visit the duty-free area.
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Afifa Umar, who has been in business for eight years, sells various products including peanuts, cashews, and sweet-and-sour fruit. She increased her stock in preparation for higher demand, with sales on normal days reaching around RM100, but potentially reaching almost RM500 a day during the school holidays. Afifa emphasized the importance of increased visitors not only for her business but also for other traders and the service sector around Rantau Panjang.
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Zila Abdullah, 36, from Kampung Temangan, Machang, and her husband, Azhar Musa, 36, who frequently travel between Malaysia and Thailand, expect visitor numbers to increase ahead of National Day. Zila mentioned that the heightened presence of police, military personnel, and relevant agencies gave people confidence to visit the area, but they should remain vigilant and follow authorities' instructions due to the recent security developments in the Thai border region.
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Azizah Mohd Tahir, a 55-year-old Rantau Panjang resident, noted that visitor numbers typically increase ahead of National Day, sometimes causing congestion as far as the bridge area. These statements from traders, residents, and the community highlight the optimism surrounding the school holidays and the potential positive impact on local businesses and the overall area.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
