Pattaya –
Pattaya, according to the Mayor, will still hold a Chinese New Year festival under strict Covid-19 measurements to boost tourism despite high cases of Covid-19 locally.
The Pattaya City Mayor Sontaya Kunplome told local media this week, “The annual Chinese New Year festival WILL be held this year from January 30th to February 1st.”
“The festival preserves the precious tradition of Thai-Chinese people who live in Pattaya and the Banglamung area as well as to boost tourism, especially domestic as due to suspension of Test and Go and the Pattaya Sandbox there are not as many tourists in the area as before New Year’s.” The Mayor stated.
TPN media notes that China is still under a “zero-covid” policy with strict quarantine and travel rules and it will be unlikely to see any regular Chinese tourists anytime soon which were once Pattaya’s bread and butter for festivals like the Chinese New Year.
“However, we are concerned with the spread of Covid-19 especially during the current Omicron situation in Pattaya and Banglamung. We have to make sure that the festival will not cause any risk to the spread of Covid-19. Exact measurements are still being discussed.” The Mayor concluded.
The festival this year, based on early planning, would likely focus on primarily religious, decorative, and ceremonial events vs. “fun events” that draw crowds, city hall officials have told TPN media. TPN media will provide a full schedule for the festival as the event comes closer. Some events, like the current Jet Ski World Cup, have continued despite rising Covid-19 cases but others, like the Naklua Eat and Walk festival, were postponed.
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