Pattaya and neighbouring Chonburi have announced they will be spending 21 million baht in 2009 in tourism campaigns alone. The big budget is a clear sign that Pattaya wants to put the dismal economic end of 2008 behind it and prepare for a more prosperous 2009. The promotional campaigns planned by Pattaya City are targeted at Thai tourists as much as foreigners, as the nation tries to encourage Thais to travel within its own country and establish a stronger domestic tourism scene. At a recent meeting, Pattaya Mayor Itthipol Khunplome stated that statistics show a 50 per cent drop in tourist numbers in the popular seaside resort town. Thailand’s political turmoil is often cited as the main reason international travellers are cancelling their plans to visit Thailand. Pattaya already has many big events planned for 2009, starting off with a huge Chinese New Year celebration at the end of January. [The Pattaya International Music Festival][1], organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, in March should also draw thousands of domestic and foreign tourists to Pattaya. The mayor said the city is also working on long-term strategies and even bigger annual events to keep Pattaya’s tourism industry running. [1]: http://www.1stoppattaya.com/culture/festivals/ 2009-01-06T10:28:00+07:00 1062 2009-01-04T10:50:59+07:00 5 true 1062-pattaya-spends-big-on-2009-tourism-budget Andrew