Thailand tourism - observations from this weekend

[rickudon]

Well, just got back from 2 days in Pattaya, with family. As a holiday weekend, i assume busier than the new normal. Just some observations on the contrasts.

 

First, airports. At Udon Thani hardly any difference to the past, Maybe slightly quieter, but most shops and services running as per normal, flight full. Utapao - an utter ghost town - the only service open were the toilets!

 

In Pattaya, our hotel was 100% full. One of wife's friends tried to book and no rooms available for the weekend. Of course, quite a few hotels are still closed. The hotel was running a special deal, and obviously worked for them. Customers - 99% Thai. The beach on Friday was slightly busy, on Saturday like Blackpool on a busy day! Again, nearly all Thais, maybe a lot day trippers. As for the mask wearing order for the beach - hard to spot any! So gave up myself.

 

Traffic was quite busy. Saturday evening out of curiosity went to Walking street (early, just after 6 p.m.) Reminded me of a derelict shopping centre in a town in North of England, minus the charity shops ..... Only about 12 places open, the rest were either shutters down and locked up, or empty with piles of stripped fittings and rubbish. Expect the bulldozers soon.

 

On Beach road, most shops and restaurants seemed to be open. Elsewhere, saw a few shops shut but not a lot.

 

Thai tourism is currently very much in a state of flux.

[chicowoodduck]

Yup, Pattaya was humming......beach chairs full, shops busy, almost like normal times.....minus the few hundred thousand Chinese...????????????????????????????????????????

[Guderian]

The traffic in South Pattaya has been crazy all weekend, even with very few buses or coaches around. I'm missing the lockdown already!

[sandyf]

8 minutes ago, chicowoodduck said:

Yup, Pattaya was humming......beach chairs full, shops busy, almost like normal times.....minus the few hundred thousand Chinese...????????????????????????????????????????

We went down to Pattaya yesterday and unlike Ao Nang, could hardly be described as closed.

Traffic congestion around Pattaya was as bad as it gets, crawled all the way back up the No 7 to Chonburi. Bit slow on the uptake, should have realised that with the free tolls, going through Sri Ratcha would have been a better option.

[Andrew Dwyer]

I had a drive up to Phu Tabberk on Friday, pretty much every resort fully booked, just some camping or the chancers quoting ridiculous prices left. A place we stayed before was 1200 baht, now quoted 2500 !!

 

Had a drive to Khao Kho Saturday, bumper to bumper and difficult to get a decent photo with the jostling going on.

Have only myself to blame for taking on a trip with gf, 2 kids and a mil who struggles to walk on a holiday weekend !!

What was I thinking ???? 

[Caldera]

OP, thanks for your report. Confirms that I'm doing well only going there during the week, when it's much quieter.

 

[UKJASE]

hua hin was rammed this weekend too

[statman78]

Up here in Chiang Rai the weekend has been very quiet.  Less traffic than normal if that is even possible ????

 

I think people around here took off for other parts of Thailand.

[khunjeff]

24 minutes ago, UKJASE said:

hua hin was rammed this weekend too

Yes, it was, but the sois with bars and restaurants that normally cater to Europeans were spookily deserted - I don't know how those establishments are staying open, since they literally have no customers.

[spidermike007]

You simply cannot evaluate a major holiday weekend, and say things are even close to normal. It is great that the Thais are stepping up, taking advantage of great deals, and supporting the tourism industry. It helps, no doubt. But, it is only a portion of what the hotels, restaurants, and other businesses need. The industry is hurting, big time. 

 

Thailand needs courageous leadership. They don't have it. The army are major cowards. ANY person from ANY nation should be welcome starting tomorrow, if they are willing to subject themselves to a 14 day quarantine and pay excessive fees for that two week sentence. There is no downside or risk, and only upside for the nation. No groveling from a local consulate should be required. That is utter nonsense. A covid free letter and a booking at an approved hotel. 

[sammieuk1]

The state of Thai tourism is well fluxed up your correct ????

[tomauasia]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

You simply cannot evaluate a major holiday weekend, and say things are even close to normal. It is great that the Thais are stepping up, taking advantage of great deals, and supporting the tourism industry. It helps, no doubt. But, it is only a portion of what the hotels, restaurants, and other businesses need. The industry is hurting, big time. 

 

Thailand needs courageous leadership. They don't have it. The army are major cowards. ANY person from ANY nation should be welcome starting tomorrow, if they are willing to subject themselves to a 14 day quarantine and pay excessive fees for that two week sentence. There is no downside or risk, and only upside for the nation. No groveling from a local consulate should be required. That is utter nonsense. A covid free letter and a booking at an approved hotel. 

They forget we rooms lol

[Lancashirelad]

Quote

Saturday evening out of curiosity went to Walking street (early, just after 6 p.m.)

To be fair, even in normal times, many businesses in Walking St. inc. all GoGo's wouldn't be open until 7 or 8.