The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) predicts that at least 600,000 Indian tourists would visit Pattaya this year, bringing visitor numbers back to levels close to those before the outbreak.
In the year before the pandemic, over 900,000 Indian visitors visited Thailand, with almost 600,000 of them visiting Pattaya, according to Anoma Vongyai, head of TAT’s Pattaya office. Following Chinese and Russian tourists, Indian visitors made up the third-largest foreign tourist contingent in 2019.
Since Thailand’s borders were once again opened to tourists last year, a significant increase in Indian tourists has been observed. According to Anoma, Pattaya has become a popular travel destination for Indian travelers. In Pattaya, there are primarily two types of Indian tourists: seminar attendees and free independent travelers (FITs).
While independent tourists arrive all year long, seminar groups usually only come between May and August. Toward the end of the year, fewer Indian tourists are anticipated.Many Pattaya neighborhoods, including Pattaya Nua (North), Pattaya Klang (Central), Pattaya Tai (South), and Phra Tamnak Hill, are where seminar group travelers stay. According to the director of the TAT’s Pattaya office, FIT travelers prefer to stay in Pattaya Klang and Pattay Tai since the cost of lodging there is lower.
At least 600,000 Indian visitors are anticipated in Pattaya this year, with conference attendees likely to spend between 2,000 and 3,000 Baht per person per day and FIT travelers estimated to spend between 1,000 and 2,000 Baht per person per day.
Indian visitors contribute to the local economy by spending money on lodging and meals as well as by visiting places of interest such the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, the Alcazar Cabaret, and Koh Larn Island. Anoma further noted that Indian visitors who are attending seminars are known to frequent entertainment places while they are there.
