SONGKHLA: The Hat Yai railway station was on Sunday filled with Thai Muslims heading home for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast.
All trains bound for southern border provinces, including rapid train No 171 (Bangkok-Sungai Kolok), were packed with people heading home to Songhkla and other southern border provinces as the end of Ramadan approaches.
People were seen lining up in long queues to buy tickets at local railway stations.
The Office of the Chularatchamontri has set Monday, June 3, as the day the moon will be observed in order to determine the actual day of the festival -- either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Withaya Sae Lim, a professional guide in Songkhla, said many hotel rooms have been reserved by tourists for the occasion. As of Sunday, hotels in downtown Hat Yai were about 60% booked, partly by foreign tour companies via the Internet.