Chinese visitors to Pattaya set to slide

Pattaya tourism operators are bracing for a sharp plunge in arrivals this low season as targeted efforts to lure the Chinese market as independent tourists have started to pivot to other overseas destinations.

- NARUMON KASEMSUK

Thanet Suppharatpinyo, president of the Association of Chonburi Tourism Federation, said Chinese groups were affected by reduced confidence in safety in Thailand earlier this year, and now independent Chinese travellers are shifting to other destinations.

He attributed these factors to a sharp decline in the occupancy rate for March. A number of hotels reported a drop from 80-90% in the first two months to 50-60% in March. April, maintaining a strong occupancy rate in March, are those in the upper-end segment.

"We were perceived as a first choice for Chinese seeking overseas trips for a long time, based on our value for money reputation. But as people become more educated, they look for facets other than price, which is why more Chinese are visiting Japan," said Mr Thanet.