Pattaya Tourism Surges with Influx of European and Russian Visitors

PHOTO: Siamrath

Pattaya —

Pattaya is seeing a surge in tourism this high season, with more Russian and European visitors and hotels reaching up to 90% occupancy, according to Mr. Thanes Supharahasrangsi, President of the Chonburi Tourism Association.

On January 29th, Mr. Thanes shared that Pattaya is seeing an influx of tourists from Europe and Russia during the current high season (November 2024 to April 2025), with many visitors staying for long periods in the city.

Mr. Thanes stated that surveys conducted by the Chonburi Tourism Association found that hotels catering to both Russian and European tourists have seen high occupancy rates, with many hotels reaching 90% capacity, particularly those located near tourist attractions and shopping areas.

In 2024, Pattaya’s tourism recovered to around 80% of pre-COVID-19 levels, and it is expected that the tourism will return to normal in 2025 and beyond. Some hotels might even see better numbers than during the pre-COVID period, as tourists now have greater confidence in the safety and standards of the destination, Mr. Thanes said. The occupancy rate and room rates are expected to increase by around 30% compared to the previous year.

However, the kidnapping incident involving Chinese actor Xingxing in a neighboring country has impacted the Chinese tourist market significantly. Following the incident, many Chinese travelers have become more cautious, leading to a decrease in Chinese tourists during the recent Chinese New Year period. Some charter flights to Thailand have been canceled, and hotels that mainly serve Chinese tourists have been affected, with a drop of over 20-30% in bookings.

Mr. Thanes stated that before COVID-19, Chinese tourists accounted for 70% of Pattaya’s visitors. The news of the kidnapping caused a 40% drop in bookings within just a few days.

Nevertheless, Thailand’s tourism outlook for February 2025 is positive, but March may see a slowdown in tourist numbers as the country enters the second quarter. The situation will depend on the government, including how they will address safety concerns and air quality issues, which could impact the decision-making process of potential travelers.

Mr. Thanes concluded that the main tourists in Pattaya are currently from Russia, followed by Europeans from countries like Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark.

PHOTO: Siamrath
PHOTO: Siamrath

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Aim Tanakorn
The local news translator and writer at The Pattaya News. Tanakorn "Aim" Panyadee is a twenty-five year old who currently lives in Bangkok. Interested in English translation, story-telling, and entrepreneurship, he believes that hard-working is an indispensable component of every success in this world.