Pattaya’s beachfront hotels are fully booked for this weekend’s fireworks spectacular, a rare feat during the pandemic.
Pattaya Business & Tourism Association President Ekasit Ngampichet said Nov. 25 that reservations for oceanfront-view rooms and resorts began pouring in as soon as the Nov. 27-28 festival was announced months ago.
Even hotels away from the beach are booming this weekend, with occupancy rates up to 80 percent, he said.
Ekasit said the fireworks festival is popular every year and, despite the fact this year’s event is only a show featuring domestic exhibitors and not an international competition as before, Thais have picked up the tourism slack with virtually no foreign tourists allowed into the country due to coronavirus-related border controls.
Parking is available at nearby malls, at Chaimongkol Temple, Pattaya School No. 8 and Bali Hai Pier.