PATTAYA, Thailand – Reporters surveyed Pattaya ahead of the high tourist season and found that tour buses have begun running again, transporting visitors to popular restaurants, particularly barbecue spots and eateries featuring Chinese-language menus and signs, signaling a positive trend in international tourism, although numbers remain modest.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in collaboration with the Tourism Council of Thailand, has launched the “Thai Tour Bus: Explore Every Region” program to encourage domestic travel in the year-end period. The initiative plans to provide tour bus services across all regions, aiming to boost revenue and distribute income to local operators nationwide.
However, international travel still faces restrictions. The Transport Company Limited (BorKorSor) has temporarily suspended bus routes between Thailand and Cambodia, including Siem Reap and Phnom Penh routes, following an unexpected ban on cross-border bus operations.
Thailand’s tourism sector continues to emphasize bus safety. Following several high-profile bus accidents that attracted international media attention, relevant authorities are accelerating efforts to raise safety standards for tour buses and coaches to meet international benchmarks.
