Pattaya cancels New Year countdown over virus fears

Pattaya has cancelled its New Year countdown event this year in a bid to curb the possible spread of Covid-19, said the city’s mayor Sontaya Kunplome on Tuesday.

The cancellation follows an outbreak in Samut Sakhon that has so far spawned more than 1,000 cases and spread to nearby provinces.

Chonburi governor Pakarathorn Thienchai, who chairs the provincial disease prevention committee, has held a meeting with related agencies on virus-control measures. As a result, he issued a ban on all New Year events in the province, including the Pattaya countdown.

The Pattaya Countdown 2021 was expected to draw about 300,000 visitors to the seaside city from December 29-31.

However, visitors would still choose Pattaya for their New Year holiday despite the cancellation of festivities, Sontaya added.