Pattaya struggles to regain lost ground
August 20, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News
BANGKOK, 20 August 2010 – Political instability and the shift in tourist markets has seriously damaged Pattaya’s tourism according to the resort’s officials.
The shift to Asian markets, rather than Europe, continues with India now identified as the top potential market capable of supplying events, incentives and wedding related business.
Tourism officials were in Bangkok, yesterday, to promote Pattaya Grand Sale, their latest campaign to draw more visitors to the eastern seaboard resort.
On the sidelines of a media reception at Siam Discovery, Thai Hotel Association Eastern Chapter President, Bundarik Kusolvitya, said the “destination had not recovered since the cancellation of ASEAN Summit back in April 2009.”
Red shirt demonstrations turned violent forcing ASEAN ministers to flee and causing substantial damage to the venue hotel, Royal Cliff Beach Resort.
“Our industry has never recovered. Occupancy reduced by 15 to 20% and the average room rate dropped to around Bt2000 for five-star hotels. Now we rely on a cheap rate from a domestic seminar group these days.”
However, statistics for January to March, this year, based on arrivals at accommodation establishments and collected by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, indicated recovery was underway with a 60.68% increase in visitors.
But that was before red shirt protestors occupied downtown Bangkok last April leading to violence and arson attacks on shopping malls during late May.
The Pattaya Grand Sale launched during the last week of July is one of the projects the city hoped would recoup bookings.
“We want to be pro-active and rebuild tourism to save jobs and the local economy.” said Pattaya City Mayor, Itthiphol Kunplome.
He cited efforts to improve roads and encourage local police to improve security in a resort plagued by crime and the negative image of sex tourism.
Even if the Pattaya Grand Sale draws more visitors, tourism recovery will be a difficult process for the resort in the long-run.
“We have to worry about cutting rates too much and we need to strengthen our promotions in Asian markets.” said Bundarik
“Our major market is Asia and of all regions India is the most promising,” she explained. “European arrivals are in decline, the Euro currency is down, but we can say that Pattaya has a loyal following from Germany and the UK that continues to book.”
Pattaya Grand Sale runs until 30 September. For more information see www.trip2pattaya.com
It is not a matter of the image of Pattaya. It is the matter of reality and the personality of Pattaya as a whole. We can promote Pattaya to the segment of visitors who have the same personality as Pattaya by observing the general traits of its visitors. Pattaya has been constructed to have a dark personality for a long time. Luckily it also owns a variety of bright satellite attractions to attract a different type of visitors too, but how can we convince there is something else in and around Pattaya than its entertainment? We hope the authorities in Pattaya know how to do it, but the question is: Do they really intend to make changes or improve the personality of Pattaya? And if Pattaya cannot be improved or changed in character, it will reflect on the authorities who allow it continue that way. Wishing for positive of Pattaya soon, let’s hope for it.
To all the other problems Pattaya and Thailand has for attracting tourists you can also add the growing foreign tourist awareness of how much crime is aimed at tourists and how the thai police help the criminals not the tourists.
Many people are choosing to go elsewhere in asia because of this.
As one of the largest publishers on travel offerings in Asia (bars, clubs, shopping, spas, etc), I have to agree with Keyser Soze, regardless of one’s individual moral stance.
Pattaya is not a beach destination in the sense Ko Samui or Phuket is. While Pattaya has many family offerings, to quote from our own literature, “it offers a tempting array of big city choices in a beach setting.” Close down Pattaya’s sex tourism, and Thailand’s other beaches will win out. In Pattaya’s case, the “poor reputation” is probably a selling factor, just as gambling is central to Las Vegas’ legend.
LOL. The “negative” image of Pattaya? Chris, let’s be clear: Tourists to Pattaya are eagerly *seeking* that so-called “negative image”. You think people are going there for the dirty beaches and honky-tonk restaurants?
Chris, if tourists want luxury resorts, they go to any one of a dozen top tourism destinations elsewhere in Thailand. If they’re coming to Pattaya for 5-star luxury and quiet walks on the beach, they are nothing but lost.
And losing Pattaya’s nightlife industry would plunge the area into a deep recession. Pattaya minus walking street is a weak, faded resort town with crumbling infrastructure and grubby beaches.
The problem with tourism spending isn’t Pattaya’s image: It’s a global recession, mixed with strong competition for tourist dollars. Pattaya desperately needs it’s nightlife industry. Without it, it simply can’t compete.
Drink the koolaid Chris? The Centara Grand is no where representative of the class of lodging most tourist seek when traveling to Pattaya… You are getting the top 1/2% of well-heeled travelers… You and I, as well as anyone with any knowledge of Thailand, knows that Pattaya is the world’s largest brothel… It is and always will be… That’s the way the Thais want it, so som nom na…
What’s the old saying, you can’t make a purse out of a sow’s ear…
I am delighted to report that Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort is not experiencing the situation reported above.
Demand is strong from domestic and overseas customers alike, with occupancy in the 80′s all month and forward sales as promising.
I believe this demonstrates that if you build what the customers want to buy, they will come including customers that had never even considered the destination before.
We strongly believe Pattaya has a future and will work hard to bring customners to our properties.