Long holiday weekends are always a boon for Pattaya and the three-day Chulalongkorn Day break was no different, with tourists crowding into the sea and its beaches.
After months of flooding and traffic problems caused by the Sukhumvit Road tunnel, Pattaya business owners were overjoyed to see area beaches busy again Oct. 23-25. The visitors, mostly Thais, also were drawn by the Huay Tu waterfall in Bang Saray.
Tourists visiting the beaches in droves over the long Chulalongkorn Day weekend, creating a boon for local businesses.
With the onset of the traditional high season, locals have high hopes for an increase in tourism over last year. The city has organized a full calendar of big events to draw them, the first of which will be the Nov. 27-28 International Fireworks Festival.
Twelve parking zones have been set up at downtown malls and schools, including Central Festival Pattaya Beach, which will host another November event.
The To Be No. 1 Dancercise Championships will run Nov. 14-15.
Later in the month, Nov. 21-22, Pattaya will host the annual Longboat Races at Lake Mabprachan.
Towards the end of the month, Loy Krathong falls on November 25 this year.
