Pattaya gears up for 600,000 Indian tourists this Year

At least 600,000 Indian tourists are anticipated to visit Pattaya this year, returning the visitor numbers to levels similar to those prior to the pandemic, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Anoma Vongyai, director of TAT’s Pattaya office, revealed that over 900,000 Indian tourists travelled to Thailand in the year preceding the pandemic, with approximately 600,000 of them visiting Pattaya. In 2019, Indian visitors represented the third-largest group of foreign tourists, following Chinese and Russian travellers.

The influx of Indian tourists has significantly increased since Thailand reopened its borders to visitors last year. Pattaya has been a key destination for many Indian tourists, said Anoma. Two main categories of Indian travellers have been identified in Pattaya: those attending seminars and free independent travellers (FITs). Independent travellers arrive throughout the year, while seminar groups typically visit between May and August. The number of Indian tourists is expected to decline towards the end of the year.

Seminar group travellers stay in various Pattaya regions, including Pattaya Nua (North), Pattaya Klang (Central), Pattaya Tai (South), and Phra Tamnak Hill. FIT visitors predominantly choose to stay in Pattaya Klang and Pattaya Tai, where accommodation costs are more reasonable, according to the TAT’s Pattaya office director.

Pattaya is expected to host at least 600,000 Indian tourists this year, with seminar visitors spending 2,000-3,000 baht per person per day, and FIT visitors spending 1,000-2,000 baht per person per day. Indian tourists not only support the local economy through expenditure on accommodation and meals, but also through visits to various attractions such as the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, Alcazar Cabaret, and Koh Larn Island. In addition, Indian tourists attending seminars are known to frequent entertainment venues during their stay, added Anoma.