PATTAYA, Thailand – While many residents complain about the chaos of Songkran, there is no doubt the festival is good business for Pattaya’s water gun vendors.
Across the city, especially along Beach Road, Second Road, and Soi Buakhao, vendors are doing brisk business selling colorful plastic water guns of every size imaginable. From small pistols for children to oversized backpack-style blasters for adults, demand remains high despite prices often rising sharply during the festival period.
Many visitors seem willing to pay almost any price once they arrive in Pattaya and realize they do not want to miss out on the fun. Some water guns that would normally sell for a few hundred baht can fetch much higher prices during the busiest days, especially ahead of April 19, when Wan Lai Pattaya reaches its peak.
Vendors say the biggest sales usually come from tourists who arrive unprepared and decide at the last minute to join the celebrations. Bright colors, giant designs, cartoon themes, and large-capacity tanks are especially popular with younger visitors and families.
For many roadside sellers, Songkran can provide one of the best earning periods of the year, helping make up for slower months outside the holiday season. Some spend days preparing stock, filling sidecars and pickup trucks with water guns, waterproof phone pouches, hats, goggles, and colorful shirts to attract buyers.
Many vendors also know that most of these water guns will have little use after April 19. Large numbers are often left behind in hotel lobbies, taxis, rubbish bins, and on the streets once the festival ends. Yet when visitors return the following year, many happily buy new ones all over again.
Even as some residents call for shorter and calmer celebrations, vendors remain cheerful, knowing that Pattaya’s famous water fights continue to create strong business opportunities every year.
