PATTAYA, Thailand – Visitors hoping for a softer Thai baht to stretch their holiday budget may have to put those plans aside. Krungthai GLOBAL MARKETS reported that the baht opened Wednesday morning (Sept 4) at 32.28 per U.S. dollar, slightly stronger than the previous close of 32.37. Analysts expect the currency to remain stable within the 32.10–32.45 range over the next 24 hours.
The baht’s firmness comes as the U.S. dollar weakens, pressured by falling bond yields and growing expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at its September 18 meeting. This has also pushed gold prices to fresh record highs, adding another layer of cost pressure for foreign visitors.
Economists note that despite short-term fluctuations, the baht remains resilient. Tourists in Pattaya who are holding off on major spending or remittances in hopes of a weaker currency may end up disappointed. “Waiting for the baht to weaken might not be the winning strategy this season,” one Bangkok-based trader commented.
Market watchers will be closely monitoring U.S. economic data releases this week, including private-sector jobs and service activity reports, which could sway investor sentiment. But for now, the baht’s sideways trend suggests tourists in Pattaya should plan their spending under the assumption that the strong currency is here to stay.
