Pattaya-
Pattaya and Jomtien chair, umbrella, food, and other vendors are not happy.
As Covid19 cases have reached record highs both nationally and locally this week many domestic tourists and visitors are staying away according to Pattaya Beach vendor associations who spoke with local media this week.
Nationally, the Thai government has currently set a level four Covid19 alert which sets multiple suggestions and advice, but not mandates. One of these is to discourage interprovincial travel and encourage people to stay at home.
Another of the level four alert guidelines is no major events or gatherings…as a result Pattaya has postponed the music festival scheduled for every weekend in March. There is no set date for the festival to resume. Pattaya has also asked for no events or gatherings to be held from the private sector with more than fifty people until further notice.
Understandably, not everyone agrees with the decision and Pattaya Beach vendors say the postponement will cost them a a significant amount of their income.
On top of this, Pattaya area beach associations also have said that domestic tourists visiting the beaches in the past few weeks has dropped about 90 percent. TPN notes this is not a scientific analysis but the opinions of local beach workers.
Pattaya sits at over 90 percent double vaccinated according to Pattaya Mayor Sonthaya Khunpluem and Chonburi is the most vaccinated place in Thailand with significant hospital capacity. Unfortunately, despite these numbers, events continue to be canceled or postponed and tourism and local businesses like beach umbrella vendors suffer in the meantime.
Pattaya Beach vendors also said that they still encourage people to visit the area beaches which are open air, safe, and easy to social distance. They also added that precautions like hand sanitizer and regularly cleaning chairs and umbrella beds take place as well.
Photos: Sophon Cable