This year Thailand has seen a series of relief plans starting from January when the government realized that the country could not run smoothly and lump sum of taxes could not be collected if tourism, as the main income, was not back to normal as soon as possible. So it decided to slowly reopen the air-sea-land borders, businesses, schools, and indoor and outdoor nightlife entertainment.
In August, Pattaya City Hall brought back the annual ‘Pattaya Music Festival’. On the last three weekends the city welcomed huge numbers of visitors, mostly young Thais. Hotels saw higher bookings while food businesses also benefited from it. The final stage of the music festival was held on Sat Aug 27.
The shows started at 5 p.m. with free entry at Pattaya Central Beach and on Koh Larn Island and wrapped up at midnight. Traffic around town especially on Beach Road and the Second Road were again congested since Friday afternoon. Those who wanted to go to the stage area on the beach had to park at hotels and take baht-buses or walk to the beach.
Parking spaces were available at Terminal 21 on North Road, and at other shopping malls on the second road. Food stalls were set up along the footpath catering easy Thai dishes and drinks at reasonable prices. Pattaya City Mayor Poramet Ngampichet took this opportunity to thank street vendors for keeping the area clean. The mayor also enjoyed the concerts with the young visitors on the festive weekend even though storms had brought rains to the area, but it lasted only about an hour on Friday. The concert could continue after that.