Pattaya cashes in from Songkran

The popular party city of Pattaya, a short journey southeast from Bangkok, has reportedly lined its coffers with more than 500 million baht after its celebrations of the Songkran festival this year. The Tourism Authority of Thailand reports that 500,000 people visited Pattaya during the three day celebration of the Thai New Year.

Pattaya stands as the centre of activity as far as tourism goes in Chonburi Province, and the TAT reports that 2007 recorded an upswing in tourists visiting the province, and that 2008 is shaping up to do even better. TAT says 6.62 million people visited Pattaya and Chonburi last year, an 8 percent increase from 2006.

As TAT figures show an increase in visitors, a marked distinction is coming from hotel owners, to whom it seems numbers are dropping. This is due to the fact that another big trend in Pattaya is hotel construction, spreading patronage out over more properties. Between 700 and 800 hotel rooms are expected to open over the next two years, including chain brands like the Hilton and the Holiday Inn.