Hungarian Dascse Andars says he’s not worried for
his safety here in Pattaya, despite the protests in Bangkok.
Nutsara Duangsri
While Thailand’s tourism industry has been battered by months of anti-government
protests in Bangkok, some Pattaya tourists remain undaunted, saying the effects
of the protests on the capital’s streets haven’t reached them here.
Norwegian Ketil Tellefsen, 24, said he hoped the Bangkok conflict will be
resolved soon, but “it’s not really affecting me at all.” On his first visit to
Pattaya, he said the city and weather is fantastic, traveling here is
inexpensive and he loves the beaches.
The protests, begun in October, entered a new phase March 2 as the People’s
Democratic Reform Committee effectively ended its seven-week “Bangkok Shutdown”
by closing three stages blocking three major intersections in favor of a
more-secure central stage. The group now has only three protest stages remaining
in the city, but has vowed to continue pressing caretaker Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra to resign and businesses supporting her family to abandon
the ruling party.
German tourist Klaus Gottschlich has
been here many times and says the protests stay in Bangkok and don’t impede on
the tourist fun here.
The unrest is a long way from the beach for Hungarian Dascse
Andars, 62, who also said he’s unaffected by the protests in Bangkok. On his
sixth visit to Pattaya, he said he comes for the wonderful weather, people and
food.
German Klaus Gottschlich, 58, also said he has visited Pattaya many times and
will continue to do so because it is inexpensive, safe, and has many
attractions. What is happening in Bangkok, he said, doesn’t affect him.
Norwegian tourist Ketil Tellefsen
(2nd right) along with his family and friends hope the Bangkok conflict will be
resolved soon.
