About 50 percent of hotel bookings in southern Songkhla province were canceled after fatal bombings that killed three and hurt over 400 last Saturday, according to hotel association on Thursday.

Provincial Hotel Business Association President Somchart Pimthanapoonporn said the number of tourists dropped to around 20 percent and more than 50 percent of hotel rooms booked for the festival next week have been canceled, which is estimated to cost the industry more than 50 million baht (1.6 million U.S. dollars).

The attack was considered a heavy blow as it shook confidence among residents and tourists. It would take at least three months to revive the tourism business, Somchart said.

Meanwhile, the authorities today began removing vehicles from the bomb blast site which is the car park of a hotel in Hat Yai district. An estimated 200 vehicles were believed in the facility.