5-day holiday gets slow start in Pattaya

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Local tourists disembark from minivans at Bali Hai Pier to board boats to Koh Larn. It was a slow start to the holidays caused by bad weather this week.

Despite lofty predictions, fewer tourists arrived in Pattaya and Koh Larn than expected for the long holiday, due mostly to poor weather.

Bali Hai Pier was relatively quiet July 13 for the start of the five-day weekend. The Marine Department estimated there were only 2,500 travelers to Koh Larn. Pattaya officials had predicted 10,000.



Rain and cloudy skies kept many travelers away, but Pattaya officials remained confident more people would come as the holidays continued.

Tourist police ensured that tourists headed to Koh Larn for the long holiday were wearing life jackets. In addition to stationing officers at Bali Hai Pier, local tourist police also patrolled areas at high-risk of crime in both Pattaya and Jomtien Beach.

The ferry boats to Koh Larn were not packed as expected during the first day of the long holiday week, but more are definitely coming because the hotels on Koh Larn are practically booked out.