Betong, Thailand

This article is about a town in Thailand. For the Malaysian town located in Sarawak, see Betong, Sarawak. For the Malaysian town located in Pahang, see Bentong.

Town in Yala, Thailand

Betong

เบตง

Town

เทศบาลเมืองเบตง

Main Street

Betong

Location in Thailand

Coordinates: 5°46′23″N 101°4′21″E﻿ / ﻿5.77306°N 101.07250°E﻿ / 5.77306; 101.07250
Country| Thailand
Province| Yala
District| Betong
Government

• Mayor| Somyot Lertlamyong
Area

• Total

| 78 km2 (30 sq mi)
Population

(2005)

• Total

| 24,688
• Density| 320/km2 (820/sq mi)
Time zone| UTC+7 (ICT)
Area code| (+66) 73
Website| betongcity.go.th

Betong (Thai: เบตง, pronounced [bēː.tōŋ]; Malay: Betung (Jawi: بيتوڠ ) ; Chinese: 勿洞) is a town (thesaban mueang) in southern Thailand, near the Malaysian border. It is the capital of Betong District, the southernmost district of Yala Province. As of 2005, the town has a population of 24,688.

Betong is the southernmost town of Thailand and is popular with Malaysian tourists, due to its location at the border with the Malaysian state of Perak.

## Etymology

[edit]

The name Betong is actually the Thai corruption of Betung. Its original Malay name means 'bamboo', more specifically dendrocalamus asper.

## History

[edit]

The town was created as a local administration unit on 30 September 1939, when the sub-district municipality (thesaban tambon) was set up.[1] The town was upgraded to thesaban mueang status on 20 February 2004.[2]

## Economy

[edit]

Tourism is the main driver of the economy of Betong, especially sex tourism. Mass tourism was not common to Betong[3] until it was launched as one of Thailand's pilot targets for western tourists with the opening of its airport for commercial flights in March 2022.[4] Academic Surang Artnarong has estimated that the town is home to 3,000 to 5,000 sex workers, who primarily service Malaysian tourists. In 2014, 466,913 foreigners visited Betong, generating 2,130 million baht in revenue.[5] The number of tourist arrivals rose to 700,000 in 2016.[6]

## Transportation

[edit]

Betong is accessible only through roads, via the 410 highway that originates from Yala, and Highway 77 from Pengkalan Hulu, Perak.

In January 2022, the Department of Airports opened the Betong Airport on a 920-rai site, which is 13 km east of the town.[7][8] It is built at a cost of 1.9 billion baht. Designed to handle 300 arrivals per hour, it is projected to serve one million passengers per year, generating three billion baht for the district. Nok Air was selected to be the airline to serve the airport.[7][9] The airline operated three return flights per-week from Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport from April to October 2022.

## Gallery

[edit]

* Betong Bell Tower

* Wat Phutthathiwat

## References

[edit]

1. ^ พระราชกฤษฎีกาจัดตั้งเทศบาลตำบลเบตง จังหวัดยะลา พุทธศักราช ๒๔๘๒ (PDF). Royal Gazette (in Thai). 56 (ก): 951–954\. September 30, 1939. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2012.
2. ^ ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง เปลี่ยนแปลงฐานะเทศบาลตำบลเป็นเทศบาลเมือง (PDF). Royal Gazette (in Thai). 122 (Special 20 ง): 9–10\. February 20, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 24, 2012.
3. ^ "Betong: Thailand's Southernmost Everything - Matt Hunt". 2022-07-23. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
4. ^ "Betong airport welcomes first commercial flight". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
5. ^ Subpawanthanakun, Kritsada (2019-02-01). "Sex Workers, the Southern Border Provinces, and Living with Rules They Did Not Write". Prachatai English. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
6. ^ "Thailand's misty town of Betong lures tourists". Bernama. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
7. ^ a b Karnjanatawe, Karnjana (19 August 2021). "Betong airport set to open next month". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
8. ^ "Govt plans DMK-Betong flight roster". Bangkok Post. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
9. ^ Nanuam, Wassana (5 July 2019). "Betong airport runway will be extended, says army chief". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 5 July 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Betong travel guide from Wikivoyage

5°46′23″N 101°4′21″E﻿ / ﻿5.77306°N 101.07250°E﻿ / 5.77306; 101.07250

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Borders of Thailand and international crossings

| Cambodia|

* Aranyaprathet (Poipet)
* Ban Pakard (Phsar Prom to Pailin)
* Ban Laem (Daun Laem, Kamrieng)
* Ban Khao Din, Khlong Hat District (Sampov Lun and Phnom Dai)
* Hat Lek of Khlong Yai (Koh Kong)
* Chong Jom, Kap Choeng District (O Smach)
* Chong Sa Ngam (Anlong Veng)

|

Laos|

* Mukdahan ( Savannakhet)
* Ubon to Chong Mek (Vang Tao to Pakse)
* Nakhon Phanom (Thakhek)
* Nong Khai and Ban Mo (Vientiane)
* Nan to Huai Kon (Muang Ngeun)
* Loei to Tha Li (Nam Hueng)
* Chiang Khong (Huay Xai)
* Ban Sop Ruak, Chiang Saen (Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone)
* Bueng Kan (Paksan)
* Dan Pudu (to Pak Lay)

Myanmar|

* Mae Sot (Myawaddy)
* Mae Sai (Tachilek)
* Ban Sop Ruak, Chiang Saen (Paradise Resort Golden Triangle)
* Ranong (Kawthaung)
* Phu Nam Ron (Htee Khee)
* Singkhon Pass) (Maw Daung)
* Sangkhla Buri and Three Pagodas Pass (Payathonzu)
* Bong Ti (Sinbyudaing)
* Nong Uk (Namaklwe)

Indonesia|

* Phuket (Port of Belawan)

Malaysia|

* Padang Besar, Thailand (Padang Besar, Malaysia)
* Wang Prachan (Wang Kelian)
* Sadao (Bukit Kayu Hitam, Changlun)
* Tak Bai to Ban Ta Ba (Pengkalan Kubor)
* Sungai Kolok (Rantau Panjang)
* Buke Ta (Bukit Bunga)
* Betong (Bukit Berapit)
* Laem Thammalang or Ko Lipe (Langkawi)
* Ban Prakop (Kota Putra/Durian Burung)

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