Trat businesses brace for lengthy closuresBusiness operators along the Thai–Cambodian frontier in Trat province are bracing for a prolonged border shutdown, urging authorities to reopen checkpoints while rapidly pivoting toward domestic markets to survive. He credited local tourism events, such as the annual Khlong Yai Goddess Tubtim Shrine festival, with providing a temporary boost to income. Wiyada Suang, adviser to the president of the Trat Tourism Industry Council, meanwhile, warns that the broader impact is deepening. Ms Wiyada, who also owns a hotel in Khlong Yai, said visitor numbers have plunged. "In this situation, it's understandable that tourists don't want to come," she said, adding that cross-border tourism is also unlikely to resume soon.

Source: Bangkok Post February 16, 2026 23:00 UTC