Weeks of anti-government protests in Bangkok again are taking a toll on tourism in Pattaya, with street merchants reporting quiet times during normally busy high season.
Baht bus driver Mongkud Horkratok said his income is down about a third to 1,000 baht a day. Despite working far off the tourist-route – based on Sukhumvit Road at South Road – he’s reporting fewer customers getting rides.
This year’s busy season so far isn’t as busy as usual, in part due to the political unrest in Bangkok.
Beach chair vendor Thanida Tanakornwacharadej, 40, said her income is down about 40 percent to 5,000 baht a day. She believes many of her regular customers, who would normally hit the sand twice a week, left Thailand early because of the Bangkok strife, some claiming they feared the airport would be shut down as it once was during previous protests.
