PATTAYA, Thailand – As the official Songkran festival holidays drew to a close on April 16, expectations of bustling tourism activity at Jomtien Beach in Pattaya were tempered by observations of a quieter atmosphere than anticipated.
Residents and businesses noted a subdued tourism atmosphere, contrary to the usual bustling crowds associated with Songkran festivities. Poonsawat Singsawat, a 55-year-old beach umbrella operator, revealed that while tourists did visit as usual, their numbers fell short of expectations. She attributed this to recent adjustments in the city’s traffic flow, which may have caused confusion among visitors navigating unfamiliar routes.
Many tourists…
