Impact from coronavirus outbreak leaves Pattaya deserted

[webfact]

Impact from coronavirus outbreak leaves Pattaya deserted

 

Thai caption: All quiet in Pattaya

 

Thai media 77kaoded went to Pattaya and found that the eastern seaboard resort was suffering greatly in the wake of the COVID-19 virus outbreak.

 

After China virtually closed off their country for three months the effect is being felt most keenly in Pattaya where many businesses cater solely to an Asian clientele.

 

But there was some brighter news - the Europeans and Russians were still coming and there are always the Indians and the Thais to fall back on.

 

77kaoded said that their tour of the beer bars, hotels and other businesses in Pattaya showed that it was "very clear" how few tourists there were.

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

They spoke to Sanpetch Suphabuansathien who heads the hoteliers' association of the Eastern Seaboard.

 

Thaivisa notes that Sanpetch has been praised in the past for a "no nonsense" approach to his assessment of various situations.

 

He said that hotels that were catering exclusively to Chinese and other Asians had more than 90% fewer guests.

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Some had closed down completely for a month. Others had laid off staff for half a month.

 

Hotels were using the downtime to do maintenance on their properties.

 

Hotels catering to Europeans and Russians were not so badly affected, he said. It was still high season after all.

 

There was also the Indian and Thai market to help make up any shortfall.

 

But the overriding sense of the 77kaoded report and Sanpetch's comments was that Pattaya was suffering greatly from the effect of the virus outbreak.

 

Source: 77kaoded

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-02-19

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[ezzra]

It'll only do good to the over used and worn and starched out infrastructural and the environment to have a rest a bit and reconsecrate from the throngs of a millions of visitors to a place that until not long a go was a sleepy fishing village...

[mikebell]

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

Hotels were using the downtime to do maintenance on their properties.

At last a silver lining!  Oiling door hinges; painting walls; cleaning air con units.  (Well maybe not this last one.)

[JackGats]

I am staying in Pattaya in a hotel with a non-Chinese customer base and I can confirm occupancy is normal for this time of the year.

[ThreeEyedRaven]

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

Some had closed down completely for a month. Others had laid off staff for half a month.

I somehow suspect that they are going to be off work for quite a bit longer than that.This is not the sort of problem that is going to go away in a couple of weeks. Happy though to hear that some normally ignored necessary maintenance is being done. Perhaps when tourists do return their hotel might actually be safe.

[RotBenz8888]

23 minutes ago, webfact said:

Sanpetch has been praised in the past for a "no nonsense" approach to his assessment of various situations.

Nonsense approach is otherwise the ground rule.

[ianezy0]

Early morning walk has improved without the numerous coaches dropping the Chinese off for a parachute ride.

[JohnFlory]

This is the dumbest statement:  "There was also the Indian and Thai market to help make up any shortfall."

 

As if Indians and Thais are going to Pattaya now, but wouldn't have if there was no "shortfall" in Chinese.

[actonion]

Yesterday my wife & i decided to book 2 or 3 nights in koh chang staying in a  beach front hotel in the village of Kai Bae where we have stayed many times before  at 2,700b per night, last visit was 2 years ago

 

We were informed the rate is now 3.100b per night & "no vacanices"  for the foreseeable future.   .just as well at that nightly rate..

[ross163103]

And the problem is(?), don't own a business here so it's awesome, nice change of pace.

[Flugg]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

... where many businesses cater solely to an Asian clientele.

When you get abandoned by your money messiah from one day to the next, you might rethink the choices you made. Or not.

[JustAnotherHun]

1 hour ago, JackGats said:

I am staying in Pattaya in a hotel with a non-Chinese customer base and I can confirm occupancy is normal for this time of the year.

Right. The impact is for chinese related business, not over all.

The beer bars were dead long befor the virus and the farang related restaurants, hotels and shops have business as usual. It might be a little less than before, but not that much.

[sameasb4]

Walking st is dead until you open a door in a go go bar busy as normal some things dont change

[smedly]

2 hours ago, JackGats said:

I am staying in Pattaya in a hotel with a non-Chinese customer base and I can confirm occupancy is normal for this time of the year.

I agree, don't know where these reporters are going but I was out last night and all the hot spots that I frequent were rammed 

 

There may be some venues that support primarily Chinese tour groups (leading them around like lemmings) that have found themselves with no customers - well that's tough and serves them right for gouging these people with rip off prices herding them around like sheep because they don't know any better

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, sameasb4 said:

Walking st is dead until you open a door in a go go bar busy as normal some things dont change

Great... off to check later!

[kevinsan]

Sometimes it takes a major illness for you to appreciate the world around you.

[spiekerjozef]

Never seen it so busy in Jomtien.

[yellowboat]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

....and there are always the Indians and the Thais to fall back on.

Nice way of putting it, "fall back".   This is one of those times when saying nothing is best.   The trouble is they like to wear expensive suits and run at the mouth. 

[AdamTheFarang]

I never saw many Thais in middle/upmarket hotels in Phuket, which I doubt is different in this topic than Pattaya. I wonder why, any ideas TV readers?

[mickymouse1]

4 hours ago, mikebell said:

At last a silver lining!  Oiling door hinges; painting walls; cleaning air con units.  (Well maybe not this last one.)

Oh, no dosh to do all that and for who, they will lament 555

[mickymouse1]

What about the rest of the country or ONLY TAYA?????????

[hellohello123]

Isn't it thai culture/mentality  to double prices in quiet times to make up for it?

[champers]

9 minutes ago, AdamTheFarang said:

I never saw many Thais in middle/upmarket hotels in Phuket, which I doubt is different in this topic than Pattaya. I wonder why, any ideas TV readers?

Many Thais come to the better Pattaya hotels at the weekend. 

[zaZa9]

4 hours ago, JackGats said:

I am staying in Pattaya in a hotel with a non-Chinese customer base and I can confirm occupancy is normal for this time of the year.

Huh ?

 

Maybe time for TV to release a few more  ancient Patong Beach pics and caption it , "Not as busy as before " or some such rubbish  click bait...

[Guderian]

Nothing's changed in Jomtien.

[baansgr]

2 hours ago, sameasb4 said:

Walking st is dead until you open a door in a go go bar busy as normal some things dont change

With about thirty girls and only five customers, it will look busy

[baansgr]

12 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Nothing's changed in Jomtien.

Your joking, its now like a lovely seaside resort without those freaking tour buses everywhere...hope the Asians never come back

[Enoon]

4 hours ago, JackGats said:

I am staying in Pattaya in a hotel with a non-Chinese customer base and I can confirm occupancy is normal for this time of the year.

 

Ditto.

 

It isn't "deserted", it's just not overwhelmed with hordes of........well, you know.

 

 

[Rimmer]

Wasn't very deserted this morning on Theppasit or Lotus or Beach Road. 

[Stargeezr]

Yesterday I was in a shopping mall in Pattaya, that was pretty quiet, and today I was in Market Village, here in Hua Hin, also pretty quiet. For early Feb, it was a lot busier last year at this time.

  Still lots of Europeans, Russians, etc from the cold places, that are enjoying the

tropical heat of Thailand. Despite the risks.

Geezer