“Pattaya Model” to focus on Special Tourist Visa visitors from China and Russia
Pattaya wants to cash in on the new Special Tourist Visa scheme and local officials plan to introduce the “Pattaya Model” to help boost the local economy after it took at beating from the lack of international tourists due to the pandemic. They’ll focus on drawing in Chinese and Russian tourists on the new long stay visa, according to Pattaya Mayor Sonthaya Khunpluem.
“Last year, there were 3 million Chinese tourists visiting Pattaya, followed by Russian tourists with 1.1 million. The CCSA is targeting these two groups to visit the country under the Covid-19 health measures to boost the local economy.”
These travellers would be from cities in Russia and China that are considered to be at a low risk for spreading the coronavirus, the mayor says. He mentioned St. Petersburg in Russia and Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen in China.
Along with accommodating tourists under the Special Tourist Visa, the mayor says they are planning for other travellers that are approved by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.
The city is in the process of forming a committee to plan the Pattaya Model. The committee would include local officials as well as representatives from the tourism sector like Eastern Thai Hotels Association and the Chon Buri Tourist Attraction Association.
“Meanwhile, we are following up with the government on when U-Tapao airport will be open to accommodate STV tourists since it is fully prepared to support direct flights and to strictly abide by public health measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.”
SOURCE: Pattaya News
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