Pattaya: TAT say Thais are increasingly visiting - 10% up to 40% - despite the more expensive food and hotels

 

Sophon Cable TV

 

The Pattaya representative of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said that more Thais are visiting Pattaya than before. 

 

In the last two or three years the number of Thais in Pattaya was just 10% of the total - now it is 40%, said Pinnart Charoenphon.

 

She was optimistic about domestic travel to Pattaya suggesting that hotels were steadily opening up for Thai families. But she conceded that regarding foreign visitors the outlook remained doubtful. 

 

Though she said that she expects foreigners to be back in Pattaya by the end of the year when the coronavirus pandemic is expected to have eased. 

 

Pinnart was interviewed by Sophon Cable TV in the wake of the easing of the Thai government's lockdown restrictions. 

 

Sophon Cable TV

 

She started by comparing Bang Saen (also in Chonburi) and Pattaya. She said that in the past Bang Saen had 80% Thai visitors and Pattaya just 10%.

 

Now Pattaya was 40% Thai. 

 

The reasons that Thais chose Bang Saen over Pattaya was because food was cheap at Bang Saen and the flavor was more to their liking.

 

Rooms were also more reasonably priced for Thais and it was nearer to Bangkok than Pattaya. 

 

She said that the average Thai spends 700-800 baht a day when not staying overnight; if they do stay it goes up to 1,600 to 1,700 baht. The good news was that more Thais are starting to travel now. 

 

The same could not be said of foreign tourists, she said. Despite the fact that Thailand has had no new infections for the best part of 20 days not all airlines had begun operations. The end of the year should be better though, she pointed out. 

 

Ten out of 50 main tourist areas were now open in Chonburi and hotels catering to Thai families were opening up.

 

Regarding five star hotels for foreigners - some of these would be open from July 1st. 

 

Source: Sophon Cable TV

 

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I don't believe a word of it, I doubt that she does either.  

More BS from TAT........

7 hours ago, Pilotman said:

I don't believe a word of it, I doubt that she does either.  

must be true...she moved her lips

1 minute ago, petermik said:

must be true...she moved her lips

No Sir;  how do you know when a TAT Officer is lying, their lips are moving.  Slightly different meaning. 

Lies; damned lies and TAT.

Surely if there are no foreigners visiting, Thais must be making up 100% not 40. And if the percentage is correct, given the paltry numbers of foreigners still here that 40% is going to represent a very small number indeed and nothing to get excited about.

4 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Surely if there are no foreigners visiting, Thais must be making up 100% not 40. And if the percentage is correct, given the paltry numbers of foreigners still here that 40% is going to represent a very small number indeed and nothing to get excited about.

I guess they mean 40% of usual totals, coudn't be much else. That sounds optimistic though.

22 minutes ago, webfact said:

The Pattaya representative of the Tourism Authority of Thailand

Now I've said all I want to say I want to get back to my colouring book which I'm really good at

BTW.....the photo is not even Pattaya beach

Yeah but what are the total numbers lol.  Of course the percentage of Thais would be up if foreigners number is down it's just common sense.  It doesn't mean any more have come it just means they constitute a greater percentage.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

In the last two or three years the number of Thais in Pattaya was just 10% of the total - now it is 40%, said Pinnart Charoenphon.

Translation by the flaming obvious department:  Airport shut

2 hours ago, tlandtday said:

Yeah but what are the total numbers lol.  Of course the percentage of Thais would be up if foreigners number is down it's just common sense.  It doesn't mean any more have come it just means they constitute a greater percentage.

That's what she said but she got drowned out by the 'let's all sh!t on TAT' crowd.

 

Just because they're not allowed on the bus, eh?

3 hours ago, petermik said:

BTW.....the photo is not even Pattaya beach

Quite correct, and on top of that, living almost on Pattaya Beach Road, I would confidently wager that this photo was NOT taken at any recent time, wherever it is ???? All the nearby beaches have been deserted for months.

7 hours ago, webfact said:

In the last two or three years the number of Thais in Pattaya was just 10% of the total - now it is 40%, said Pinnart Charoenphon.

 

This data came from the increase sales of Sangsom and som tum in Pattaya.  ???? 

7 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Surely if there are no foreigners visiting, Thais must be making up 100% not 40. And if the percentage is correct, given the paltry numbers of foreigners still here that 40% is going to represent a very small number indeed and nothing to get excited about.

And the Thais that I know who  (vacation)  in Pattaya, usually only go for the day, sit on Jomtien Beach, eat a few grilled prawns and drink some Lao Khao.

Not exactly what I would term a tourist

a beach full of tourists, how much was the fine again for that old french dude ?

20 minutes ago, Cake Monster said:

And the Thais that I know who  (vacation)  in Pattaya, usually only go for the day, sit on Jomtien Beach, eat a few grilled prawns and drink some Lao Khao.

Not exactly what I would term a tourist

One only has to physically be in Pattaya to be deemed a tourist.  That fact that not 1 baht may be spent by the individual is of no consequence.  ????

Well considering that I've just read that certain bus companies won't allow Farangs to use their buses, I think that my plans to enjoy travel within Thailand (and help support the economy!) are going on hold.  Rather disappointing. 

9 hours ago, Pilotman said:

I don't believe a word of it, I doubt that she does either.  

You don't live in Pattaya, you don't like Pattaya, and you avoid ever coming into Pattaya. You have no idea, actually.

9 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I guess they mean 40% of usual totals, coudn't be much else. That sounds optimistic though.

That's correct, as she referred to previous years. So much of the usual nonsense on this thread.

 

Not so optimistic. Most here don't actually see all those Thais flooding into the malls, tying up traffic, and parked at Jomtien Beach.

6 hours ago, petermik said:

BTW.....the photo is not even Pattaya beach

Could it be a photo of one of Pattaya's beaches? Pattaya covers a wide area and has several. Cough.

9 hours ago, Pilotman said:

No Sir;  how do you know when a TAT Officer is lying, their lips are moving.  Slightly different meaning. 

But everyone agrees with what she said regarding the foreign tourists. What we disagree with, we actually know nothing about. ????

6 minutes ago, BigStar said:

You don't live in Pattaya, you don't like Pattaya, and you avoid ever coming into Pattaya. You have no idea, actually.

True, I don't and I avoid it if  at all possible.  But I do know about the place,  as I holidayed there many  times over many years, when it was worth visiting that is. Now its not, although Covid 19 and the various restrictions, plus the lack of visitors has definitely improved the place for the better. 

2 hours ago, Leaver said:

This data came from the increase sales of Sangsom and som tum in Pattaya.  ???? 

Might be part of it. So?

2 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

But I do know about the place,  as I holidayed there many  times over many years

You knew the place. ????

2 hours ago, Cake Monster said:

And the Thais that I know who  (vacation)  in Pattaya, usually only go for the day, sit on Jomtien Beach, eat a few grilled prawns and drink some Lao Khao.

Not exactly what I would term a tourist

The daytripper is traditionally recognized as a tourist, like it or not. Yes, they spend and that spending is welcome esp now. You know only a minority of Thais. A particular minority.

24 minutes ago, carlf said:

Well considering that I've just read that certain bus companies won't allow Farangs to use their buses, I think that my plans to enjoy travel within Thailand (and help support the economy!) are going on hold.  Rather disappointing. 

Oh, choose another bus company. Sorted.

1 hour ago, Leaver said:

One only has to physically be in Pattaya to be deemed a tourist.  That fact that not 1 baht may be spent by the individual is of no consequence.  ????

No consequence to whatever point you thought you were making, as she did refer to average spend, which included those who spend little or nothing.

7 minutes ago, BigStar said:

You knew the place. ????

I see on your profile, or more acculturate, don't see, that you have any connection with the place at all. I at least do live within 40km of it, so know enough to know my own  mind.   Perhaps you just read about it, like in a travel book?