by Michael Bridge

Having been through the worst few years in its history, the Pattaya hospitality industry seems to be making some income at last, as the Songkran Festival takes over the town.

As a local resident, I was actually surprised to drive past a row of eight buses parked beside third road, a sign that the crowds were back.

The difference was they were the buses with upper deck windows open, favoured by locals out for a few days beside the sea.

Seems that many Thais fearful of overseas travel, headed for the Gulf of Thailand, and at only 80 minutes from Bangkok, it was an easy choice for many.

Although beach road was not closed to traffic for Thailand’s biggest water battle this year, there were still a lot of families on the beach enjoying the hot weather.

 

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The Pratamnak area also saw thousands head for its beach too, with street vendors, at last, making some good money.

In fact, there were even a few traffic jams across the city, the first time in ages.

I heard the water parks and local attractions such as Nong-Nooch Gardens and the Sanctuary of Truth were busy too.

Central Festival and Terminal 21 just about coped with queues to find a parking slot.

The big question was did the hotels have sufficient staff to handle this influx of travellers?

Expect the next few months to return to a quieter normal, which may be good news for residents, but not so great for the hoteliers, restaurants, bars, and theme parks.
 

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Open the flood gates....

 

 

Edited April 21, 20224 yr by metisdead
Trolling image removed.

Although great for the local businesses it doesn't bring new money into the country, just redistributes it around the country.

They would have double or triple the numbers had it been for the cumbersome and unnecessary entry rules...

I think it'll take some time yet to get tourism anywhere near to the like it was before, & that's only if the goverment can manage to sort their heads out about what they are doing.

 

2 hours ago, Petey11 said:

Although great for the local businesses it doesn't bring new money into the country, just redistributes it around the country.

These are only Thai people out for songkran not international tourists.

All those pissing under the waves at once?????

On 4/19/2022 at 2:37 AM, flyingtlger said:

Open the flood gates....

 

 

The monsoon will be here soon.

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

They would have double or triple the numbers had it been for the cumbersome and unnecessary entry rules...

It does say "buses favoured by locals.."

So it would appear the topic is about local thais...

Woopy Doo....half a dozen busses does not an income make while some other 30 seconds of fame spokesperson spruiks batton down the hatches while waiting for the covid spike?

 

1 hour ago, dallen52 said:

It does say "buses favoured by locals.."

So it would appear the topic is about local thais...

Pop question, How do you tell if the buses are fill with local Thais or International tourist? Give up? On the local Thai bus they will be all wearing double masks, it's built into us now.

23 minutes ago, vandeventer said:

Pop question, How do you tell if the buses are fill with local Thais or International tourist? Give up? On the local Thai bus they will be all wearing double masks, it's built into us now.

Good for them if they do. They are enjoying a trip away from home, yet being prudent! Pity foreigners don't have similar intelligence. 

(What is with the US pronoun, you Thai too now?)

Edited April 19, 20224 yr by jacko45k

12 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Good for them if they do. They are enjoying a trip away from home, yet being prudent! Pity foreigners don't have similar intelligence. 

(What is with the US pronoun, you Thai too now?)

Wrong! This wasn't a question on right or wrong, it was a question on how do you tell!

Covid has at least provided a welcome respite  from the hundreds of old diesel buses belching fumes

day and night in Pattaya.

6 hours ago, webfact said:

In fact, there were even a few traffic jams across the city, the first time in ages.

But surely, the whole purpose of the massive and never-ending drainage works around the city was to create large traffic jams and provide the appearance of 'normality'.

3 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

These are only Thai people out for songkran not international tourists.

Appears to be the same here in Cambodia, however I saw many foreign tourists here in Siem Reap.

 

"Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism, said that during the Khmer New Year holidays from April 14-17, 2022, the total number of tourists in the country was 5,175,754 people. This includes 5,140,495 domestic travelers and 35,259 foreign tourists."

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501059260/number-of-domestic-tourists-rises/

 

could have been more.  Normal bus lines were only allowing Thais to come to the city.

My GF's friend was denied bus entry since she was Cambodian.

I got annoyed at the extra traffic, then remembered that it was the city waking up and smiled.

The World knows that until the bars are allowed to get their licences at full swing and lights flashing … Then Thailand will just be another Scarborough with Sunshine …. No doubt TAT will hail this as 10 million spending 500K a week

"The Pratamnak area also saw thousands head for its beach too".

Thousands? Really?

As a snowbird, I’m currently at home in the south of France. The ski resorts near Nice have closed after a busy winter season. Talking to my hotel neighbors, they all said they’re booked full from practically now on. In the EU , it was said that summer tourists will be staying close to home., The cost of petrol plays a part, but we have good rail service everywhere, what a great way to visit Italy , Spain, France and further comfortably and not expensive. Just booked a flight to Italy, under 60 € return.  Tickets to Thailand are expensive,  with Covid , there’s no telling what awaits you, with kids as well, costs a fortune, plus , so much to book in advance, hoops to jump through. Don’t forget there’s a war on our doorstep. There’s been a lot of bad publicity about the shenanigans with the  tourists testing positive. Made headlines in the Time magazine this week. It’s been all over the internet. The Thai government still do not realize that they have sunk their economy. I have a lot of Thai friends, and they’ve said they managed to get the 2 first vaccins, but they are now * out of date* and they need boosters. Also that the city dwellers had a good service, if long, but out in the countryside ( I was in Phuket first) no one was vaccinated.  The new variant is even more contagious than the previous Omicron. To get Thailand on its feet and get people working and businesses reopening, the government needs to jump in fast , get everyone vaccinated first, use the submarine ( laugh) payment to help the poor Thais get back on their feet.

Then, maybe the tourists will come back. .

The tourists want to come back, but the hurdles are not small. 1st covid is not finished, it's a lot better but not over. 2nd entry rules still not very easy, my Thai Pass is ready, but anyone going won't be there for the 1st time and not a lot will come with family. 3th massive inflation, fuel costs, war ... lots of uncertainties.

Expect a slow rise in tourism, maybe speeding up by the end of the year, depending on those different factors.

Must say, i didn't miss the bus loads of tourist licking the inside of the windows, touring around the roads of pattaya.

Oh what a joyous return for all. 

 

On 4/19/2022 at 4:20 AM, Petey11 said:

Although great for the local businesses it doesn't bring new money into the country, just redistributes it around the country.

And the Thai's who usually like to go abroad but are traveling domestically at the moment?

I am daily seeing India tour buses full of mostly India men.

They are also dropping them off on BR after their day trips to Koh Larn.