A special conference to discuss tourism promotion in Pattaya was convened to discuss proposals to deal with the drop in tourists coming to Pattaya in recent months.
Senior executives from interested parties such as the Pattaya Business and Tourism association, Eastern Seaboard Business Association, Private companies associated with the tourist business in Pattaya and relevant officials from the Pattaya administration discussed thoroughly the issues that have seen project tourist arrivals and tourist revenues drop significantly over this years high season.
Over the last few high seasons tourists from China, Russia and India have been the mainstay for the Pattaya tourism industry. This year numbers have dropped dramatically. The reasons are numerous and cumulative. Bad weather has caused significant floods, There have been a number of highly publicised accidents and incidents that have claimed the lives of many tourists from China, Russia and India. Now there is the looming spectre of political upheaval and the memories of the airport shutdown just a few years back which severely harmed tourism in Thailand.
At the meeting proposals were put forward such as putting on more music concerts, better lighting on beach road and the better utilization of U-Tapao Airport that would give tourists an easier and more reliable access to Pattaya especially if there are problems at the main Bangkok airport.
There was no concrete conclusions or proposals just an understanding that the private sector and public administration would need to work more closely to solve these issues.
