With a long holiday this week, Pattaya and Rayong tourism operators do not expect an influx of domestic tourists following the Songkran festival.
The Thai Hotels Association forecast the occupancy rate in Pattaya would be around 65-70% during the upcoming holidays -- Labour Day on May 1 and Coronation Day on May 4.
It said weaker demand is expected for this period as local tourists already spent most of their budget during Songkran, while the end of the "We Travel Together" hotel subsidy scheme on April 30 would also decrease domestic tourism activities.
It said travellers in May were mostly family trips during school holidays and short-haul travellers from India.
The Tourism Council of Chonburi said Thailand is approaching low season for long-haul markets.
Travellers from short-haul markets such as China are still hesitant because of high airfares, resulting in fewer foreign guests in Pattaya than earlier forecast, it said.
The council said the subsidy scheme for domestic travellers proved useful as the region awaits the return of foreigners.
The Tourism Council of Rayong said while domestic tourists in Rayong accounted for almost 80% of visitors, the numbers during the upcoming holiday would be unlikely to match 2019 levels.
It said people are cautious about spending on leisure trips because of the high costs of living, notably from food and electricity.
