Pattaya’s beach chair vendors enjoy Songkran income boost

PATTAYA:--Despite a decline in the number of foreign tourists, Pattaya’s beach chair vendors say they made more money during Songkran due a greater number of Thai faces under their umbrellas.

“There are fewer foreign tourists this year, probably due to the poor economy in the west, but there are more Thais,” said one vendor, identified only as Phan. Thais, she lamented, bring their own food and drink, costing her income. So she has supplemented her menu with coconuts, which has made up some of the loss. Phan figures she made between 3,000 and 4,000 baht during the national Songkran holidays, April 13 and 14.

Kimluan Kanna, another vendor, said she took in almost 5,000 baht on April 13 and only saw business drop on the 16th. The only down day of the week was the 19th, when no beach chair vendor makes very much, she said.

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-- Pattaya Mail 2012-04-28

Took a walk on Pattaya beach a few weeks back, when the tide was quite low, and couldn't believe the difference viewing the bay from "below" the beach chairs rather than usual view looking out to sea from the roadside footpath. It actually looked like a proper beach resort rather than a slum. The beach chairs and umbrellas and chairs really are an eyesore. The vendors would do themselves a favour if they only placed their umbrellas and chairs once they have customers to use them as I am sure I am not the only one who is put off by the ugly appearance from the roadside and for much of the time a large percentage of the chairs are unoccupied.

The beach ll