THE CHONBURI Provincial Administration Organisation, which oversees tourism development in Pattaya, has set a target of 10 million international and domestic visitors and 100 billion baht (US$3.26 billion) in tourism recipts for the resort destination by 2015.
According to figures from Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Pattaya received 8.3 million arrivals in 2010, a 93.1-per cent jump over 2009. For the period January-June 2011, there were 724,273 Thai and 3,070,635 foreign visitors to Pattaya.
“Tourism to Pattaya still has potential to grow,” said Chonburi Provincial Administration Organisation chief executive Vitaya Khunplome, who cited increasing hotel investment as an indicator of the city’s tourism potential.
A total of 5,000 luxury hotel rooms will open in Pattaya over the next three years, with the new developments expanding out of central areas into the neighboring Sattahip and Na Kluea districts along the coast.
Ministry statistics show that Russia, China, Germany, Taiwan and India were the top five international source markets for Pattaya last year.
To tap these markets, the Chonburi Provincial Administration Organisation has set asode a 40 billion baht budget to support tourism events like the Pattaya Countdown and Pattaya International Music Festival, and to participate in international trade shows such as ITB Berlin, SATTE in New Delhi, and Luxury Leisure in Moscow.
Reporting by Chami Jotisalikorn
