Pattaya Today 1
Vol. 8 No. 20 1 - 15 July 2009
Volume 8, Issue 20
1 - 15 July 2009
Pattaya City Launches New Campaign
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in conjunction with Pattaya City Hall and Chonburi Provincial Administration Organisation are arranging a new promotion to try and boost tourism to our suffering market, the ‘Visit Pattaya, Discounts Everywhere’ Campaign. This new program is hoping to help in the endeavours to resolve the huge reductions in Pattaya tourism which have occurred since the world economic collapse, the recent political problems, including the closure of the main airport, cancelation of the ASEAN Summit, and most recently, the negative reports with regard to the A (N1H1) virus. Although the virus has been discovered within Pattaya, its bark is far worse than its bite. All the troubles that have faced Pattaya over the last year, have contributed to the bad reputation, totally undeserved, that the city now has to combat. An extravaganza press conference was held on the 18th June at the Siam Paragon in Bangkok, to announce to the nation and internationally the many special offers awaiting travellers to our beautiful city. The promotion is aimed at rebuilding the image of Pattaya,
and Thailand as a whole, to both local and international travellers and to let them know that despite media coverage, Pattaya is, and has always been, a safe place to spend valuable vacation time. Pattaya City is in desperate need of an influx of travellers, and of course their bulging wallets, to help turnaround a very difficult low season. We also need to set the groundwork now, to ensure tourism returns again for the high season. The recent lull in tourism in the city has affected people from every walk of life from the poorest to the richest. The new campaign is to be jointly funded by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Chonburi Provisional Administration, Pattaya City Hall and the Ministry of Tourism and Sport. They are hoping that the new campaign, along with the other measures already in the pipeline, will have a positive impact in both the immediate and long term. International arrivals have reportedly dropped by 30 per cent so far this year, due to the global economic downturn that reduced the number of high-end travellers, as well as political turbulence at home and the outbreak of type-A (H1N1) influenza.
Looking at ways to increae 'Medical Tourism' Travel operators say that only hotels are operating with lower cheaper packages will help Thai- occupancy. In order to survive, land regain tourists at a time when some hotels are cutting room
Border Visa Runs Limited The Thai immigration department nationally has announced that visitors to Thailand without a prior visa can enter via a land border post only four times in a six months period. The rule apparently applies to entry at any land border with Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos or Burma. Since last December, visitors without a prior visa to Thailand have received only a two weeks stamp at these crossing points but initially there was no restriction on the number of trips made.
The restriction on the number of border trips is said to have been introduced because some visitors are “living” in Thailand and renewing their stamps by taking a visa trip every fortnight or so. An immigration spokesman said that there were visas available for people wanting to stay long term but the 15 days permission was not one of them. If an immigration officer at the border notices that a foreigner has already made four trips out and in, he will ad-
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rates by 40-70 per cent, while others are offering one free night or additional services for paid stays of at least two nights.
Pattaya City Launches New Campaign continued on page two
vise the person that they can be stamped out a fifth time but must re-enter Thailand by air. However, it is not thought that there are a large number of foreigners using the visa run to the border so many times. The new rule does not apply to flights in and out of Thailand for which there is no limit. Nor does it apply to holders on prior tourist or non-immigrant visas who enter Thailand by a land route. The regulation applies only and exclusively to foreigners entering Thailand by a land crossing and receiving a fortnight’s stamp on arrival.