What’s happening to Pattaya? Coaches everywhere!

[geejay]

 

What’s happening to Pattaya?

It looks just like a huge coach park. What’s the solution, if there is one?

The amount of coaches in, around and especially those parked is reaching ridiculous levels.

Just travelling from the traffic lights at Tony’s Gym on the 3rd road and up to the traffic lights at the top of Thappraya Road, I counted 84 coaches mainly parked and some moving.

Those roads have been widened over the years to help traffic flow but now the whole inside lane has been turned into a coach park.

I live in the Pratumnak area and the Buddha hill side is always a coach nightmare and most traffic jams are caused by inconsiderate coach drivers parking and doing crazy maneuvers and at night they park up on the Soi’s and I’m talking about numbers in the excess of fifty   

I do not just refer to that area, its widespread, right up through Nakula and all around Pattaya.

They even park on red and white lines and dangerous and restricted areas.

So what’s the law? Are these drivers given funds for legitimate and off road parking.

I fully understand that tourist need to be transported and Pattaya needs the tourism.

How about coach parks outside the city giving business to taxi’s etc so the locals gained by it as well.

I have lived here 16 years but it gets worse every year and if you are in a traffic jam, then many times out of ten there is a coach maneuver causing it.

I know it’s a tough one but any thoughts or comments, yes I know that I could move and that has been a consideration.

 

[KittenKong]

Tour buses for Chinese. Nothing very new about that. On weekends you get tour buses for Thais too. The parking itself isnt too much of a problem. The problem as I see it is the double-parking while offloading and collecting passengers from places like Mike's mall near the corner of 2nd Road and Tai (for Walking Street), or up near the Thepprasit night market, and the various shows at the north end of 2nd Road, to mention just those.

 

[adammike]

42 minutes ago, KittenKong said:

Tour buses for Chinese. Nothing very new about that. On weekends you get tour buses for Thais too. The parking itself isnt too much of a problem. The problem as I see it is the double-parking while offloading and collecting passengers from places like Mike's mall near the corner of 2nd Road and Tai (for Walking Street), or up near the Thepprasit night market, and the various shows at the north end of 2nd Road, to mention just those.

 

The main problem is the pollution and that's why I will never sleep another night in pattaya,I stay in Jomtien it's scary watching the tour buses manoeuvre up around soi 1 to 6 and to see the amount off brown- black exhaust fumes they belch out.

[newnative]

      I would eliminate ALL parking on most of the major roads, to start.  With no parking, sidewalks could be widened, shade trees added, and intersections improved for much better traffic flow.   Buses would have to park in designated parking lots and would be prohibited from parking on any city streets.   Parking also needs to be eliminated on roads that are only 2 lanes wide--such as Jomtien Beach Road where it narrows after Cetus Condo going south.   The buses are definitely everywhere and they are largely the cause of most of the traffic tie-ups, especially on the roads that were never designed to handle buses. 

[darksidedog]

The logical solution would be to have all the passengers from in town areas picked up, and dropped off again, in minibuses, that take up much less road, and taken to a central coach park somewhere outside town, where it doesn't block local traffic. I don't expect any logic to be involved with dealing with the problem here though, much as I agree it exists.

[observer90210]

What about the friendly Police of the area and their integrity to serve and protect....I'm sure they will tackle the issue right ?

[Rc2702]

What you need is a BTS line and for right now may I suggest a surgeons mask and a helicopter.

 

 

[jacko45k]

These same coaches are causing problems on some of the smaller feeder roads into Pattaya as they try to avoid the congestion on Sukhumvit. I struggled to get from soi Buakhao to Tai then back to Klang on Friday, on a motorcycle. The junction of Sukhumvit into Klang was closed for resurfacing.

 

All Pattaya is now a high season traffic mess. The large coaches a major part of it. I presume the parked ones on 3rd Rd, Pratumnak area are feeding the Koh Larn traffic. Beach Rd is held up as they try to turn from the right lane into the tiny side sois. It will get worse.

[LALes]

Jomtien ain't much fun, either.  Tons of coaches on Beach Rd. every day.  All the way down to the Russian sector

down around Chayapruek.  Chinese are the majority, tho.  Traffic in inner Jomtien is getting out of hand.  Took 15 minutes to get from the top of Phratumnak hill down to the Hanuman statue at 5:30 on Friday evening.  Screw all this.

I'm going to Bangkok.  We need a Skytrain already.

[Becker]

It's bad but still an improvement compared to last year when the OA transport company was still in operation with its hundreds of buses plying the Pattaya streets.

[Lantern]

Prime real estate on beach road.

 

 

[craigt3365]

46 minutes ago, Becker said:

It's bad but still an improvement compared to last year when the OA transport company was still in operation with its hundreds of buses plying the Pattaya streets.

No kidding!

 

I'm always amazed when these monster coaches pass me on the shoulder then push in at the light. Too bad we don't have traffic police here.

[Sydebolle]

Quality tourism has to be shuttled around to ensure getting ripped off. I sold my property and shall not return, not only for this reason but the latter was yet another straw breaking the camel's back. 

[Thaidream]

The only thing that keeps Pattaya  somewhat vital are the Chinese that descend on the place like lemmings running to the slaughter. Westerners have given up on the place long ago due to dirty water; polluted air and roads and a lack of any real other wholesome  diversions . At some point, the Chinese will give up too- but there are still a lot of Chinese to burn through.

Jomtien is next in line to be overrun and everything you see wrong with Pattaya is headed Jomtien way.  IMHO- get out now if you don't like it as the condo prices will sink. PLenty of other places in Thailand but I wouldn't advertise them -lest the hoards follow.

 

[natway09]

The price to pay for zero Bht Chinese Tourism.

Basically all I can say here is,,,,, I told you so,,,,,,,

It is just a quick buck fix & is not sustainable

The Government & Tourism Authority will wake up when they finally understand that the other real 

tourists with money in their pocket will no longer put up with this shit & go elsewhere & then you can call 

it Patcha.

We are a couple that walked away from an apartment purchase in Jomtiem partly as a result of 

this madness.

[Stargeezr]

Glad I will be going to Jomtien, looks like Pattaya is no picnic to drive in with all those buses

along with all the other local buses and large trucks, etc.

Geezer

[Thaidream]

As the poster stated not sustainable- but IMHO- what you see in Pattaya is coming to Jomtien-and possibly beyond once Utapao gets really moving and bringing more and more tours from China.

Pattaya is already overbuilt and if you look at all the building going on outside Pattaya on the way to Jomtien then you will understand what will happen. The problem is that it is like a geometric progression- the destruction of the environment; the roadways and everything in between destroys everything in its path as the money looks to make more money until there is no more to make and all the tourists depart for greener (pun intended) pastures.

I would never buy anything in the Pattaya-Jomtien corridor- it is finished as an area to relax in or invest in.Expect more and more tour buses as the years progress.

Always remember this- when looking for a place to purchase or build in Thailand- imagine what it will look like in 20 years and then make your decision.

[Becker]

50 minutes ago, Paul Laycock1 said:

Is Pattaya the center of the universe, been there once, wasn't impressed. Seem's Thai Visa is all about Bangkok or Pattaya, give it a rest.

Uh, this is the Pattaya forum Einstein.

[Monkeyrobot]

The British are coming the British are coming. Not cumming. 

[Media1]

It's the regime's desperate race for money. Do not worry if the vehicle is roadworthy. Blowing black oil over everyone is ok. Destroying the planet all acceptable. 

Welcome China who are a waste of oxygen 

[Media1]

20 hours ago, KittenKong said:

Tour buses for Chinese. Nothing very new about that. On weekends you get tour buses for Thais too. The parking itself isnt too much of a problem. The problem as I see it is the double-parking while offloading and collecting passengers from places like Mike's mall near the corner of 2nd Road and Tai (for Walking Street), or up near the Thepprasit night market, and the various shows at the north end of 2nd Road, to mention just those.

 

There all a big problem unroadworthy smoke blowing vehicles and the infrastructure is not sufficient. Along with a incompetent city hall road works department spells disaster. 

[murraynz]

the congestion around bhudha hill is sheer hell some evenings...but the bus-park that has been built just below the police box -is a very good idea..the bus operators should be paying extra tax/levies to come into the city area. they create huge congestion and pollution,also lots of extra noise...the taxes/levies could be used to build more bus parks and clean up the rubbish..this will the create additional revenue from more tourists...

[morrobay]

1 hour ago, Thaidream said:

The only thing that keeps Pattaya  somewhat vital are the Chinese that descend on the place like lemmings running to the slaughter. Westerners have given up on the place long ago due to dirty water; polluted air and roads and a lack of any real other wholesome  diversions . At some point, the Chinese will give up too- but there are still a lot of Chinese to burn through.

Jomtien is next in line to be overrun and everything you see wrong with Pattaya is headed Jomtien way.  IMHO- get out now if you don't like it as the condo prices will sink. PLenty of other places in Thailand but I wouldn't advertise them -lest the hoards follow.

 

Do you realize what a 180 you have done on this area ? Just a while back on the Walking st. renovation topic you were painting the future here as upscale and full of upper classes Chinese and Thais.

[Cricky]

You better get used to it, especially living in Pratumnak.

These buses are trucking in the tourists for mostly the New Nordic buildings.

New Nordic has destroyed Pratumnak, it was the Beverly hills of Pattaya,

now only a sea of Orange.

[JSixpack]

2 hours ago, Thaidream said:

The only thing that keeps Pattaya  somewhat vital are the Chinese that descend on the place like lemmings running to the slaughter.

3

 

Pattaya has never been "vital." Far more Thais descend on Pattaya than any foreign nationality. You ever go out on the weekends or holidays?

 

Besides Chinese, we got Russians, Koreans, etc. Slaughter? They be enjoyin'.

 

So, just more nonsense.

 

Quote

Westerners have given up on the place long ago due to dirty water; polluted air and roads and a lack of any real other wholesome  diversions .

2

 

Not really. Long ago we had only mongers anyway--the "quality." We may have about the same number but the bar areas vastly expanded and spread 'em out. They never much cared about a pristine beach, pollution, or water quality. Now in fact we do have quite a few "wholesome diversions." You don't have any stats about Western tourism but as the number has in fact been increasing, though not nearly as rapidly as the Chinese (same is true of Australia, BTW) to Thailand in general, it probably is increasing somewhat in Pattaya as well. And in fact we have more highER end tourists than ever, be they Chinese or whatever. The TVF Perpetual Death Spiralers merely can't see any of them in their fave beer bars. Corporate reports and the building tell the real story.

 

Quote

At some point, the Chinese will give up too- but there are still a lot of Chinese to burn through.

 

 

Our deathwatchers and doomsayers have been predicting The End for decades now. Meanwhile the economy's at least quadrupled since the 90s when everybody was supposed to be leaving for the paradise of Cambodia.

 

2 hours ago, natway09 said:

The price to pay for zero Bht Chinese Tourism.

Basically all I can say here is,,,,, I told you so,,,,,,,

3

 

No, you didn't. The gov't ended the zero baht tourism a year ago or so. Otherwise you'd see a lot more buses out there.

 

Quote

It is just a quick buck fix & is not sustainable

 

 

What is? As for number of tourists, the zero-dollar hole has already been filled. Many Chinese are spending good money here. Renting rooms in the Hilton doesn't really represent a "quick buck." Before you pounce, I didn't say they all do. But Chinese & Koreans, among others, have been significantly boosting the profits at the Hilton and CentralFestival, according to the last quarterly report I saw.

 

Quote

The Government & Tourism Authority will wake up when they finally understand that the other real 

tourists with money in their pocket will no longer put up with this shit & go elsewhere & then you can call 

it Patcha.

 

 

Who are the "other" real tourists? Chinese are now outspending all other nationalities.

 

Quote

We are a couple that walked away from an apartment purchase in Jomtiem partly as a result of 

this madness.

 

 Pattaya ain't for everybody. That's why there's Sarasota, FLA. You know the CONDO CRASH has been predicted for more than a decade. Just any day now . . . But believe it or not, many tourists expect the madness--they ain't the snowflakes our TVF posters are--and rather enjoy the local color.

 

1 hour ago, Thaidream said:

As the poster stated not sustainable- but IMHO- what you see in Pattaya is coming to Jomtien-and possibly beyond once Utapao gets really moving and bringing more and more tours from China.

Pattaya is already overbuilt and if you look at all the building going on outside Pattaya on the way to Jomtien then you will understand what will happen. The problem is that it is like a geometric progression- the destruction of the environment; the roadways and everything in between destroys everything in its path as the money looks to make more money until there is no more to make and all the tourists depart for greener (pun intended) pastures.

1

 

This sort of dire prediction, to support the narrative, always ignores the ability of the gov't to change something if it really wants to. It doesn't want to unless there's possibly good money to be made by doing so or there's a real crisis. Widening of Beach Rd. is an example for the festival revenue. It also helps if they get contributions from those affected. For example, the electric grid didn't have the capacity to support the needs of CentralFestival. Hence CPN paid part of the extra investment needed. At the financial crisis of '97, the gov't relaxed the foreign quota for condo ownership. And of course there's Bangkok. There was no BTS or MRT until the situation became just intolerable--for Thais. Thais set the standard, not farang. If they're not worried, why should you be?

 

Your bias is demonstrated by "destruction of the roadways." PTY just finished building the tunnel, to the chorus of usual sneers. And it's continuing to do stuff. You can do your own research. Problem is, they can't even start any resurfacing without another chorus of sneers. There's just no subsitute for rolling back the clock to 1994! Roads were GREAT back then. Never a pothole! That derelect building right there on prime beachfront (later Northshore)--no problem, didn't spell DOOM at all.

 

It makes perfect sense that every resort can reach its capacity. If tourism isn't increasing exponentially every year, as it isn't in, say, Ft. Lauderdale FLA, then that doesn't mean the long-ballyhooed APOCALYPSE and the long-prophesied Thailand's Return To The Stone Age that our posters desire so feverently. But you see I predicted it years ago in of the bi-annual DEATH threads. Here's our porn for the day:

 

 

Quote

I would never buy anything in the Pattaya-Jomtien corridor- it is finished as an area to relax in or invest in.Expect more and more tour buses as the years progress.

Always remember this- when looking for a place to purchase or build in Thailand- imagine what it will look like in 20 years and then make your decision.

1

 

You ain't goin' nearly far enough, man. You're leaving our noobs exposed to terrifying risk of losing their life's savings.

 

After years of reading postings from our sharpest members with the best advice, in 2014 I distilled the collective wisdom into the now-classic shrewd, street-smart TVF Poster Three Primal Laws Of Survival In Thailand:

 

1. Never invest in anything you aren't ready to lose;

2. Never own more than you can carry with you or leave behind;

3. Keep your suitcase packed at all times.

 

Which is all we need. Quoting one or more of the Laws gives you ten (+10) instant points of TVF posting cred from the peanut gallery.

 

[Rimmer]

An off topic post discussing Thai Visa has been removed also one post all in caps, please turn off your caps lock, thank you.

[andre47]

The Chinese tour business will increase more and more. I estimate that the quantity will double withing the next 5-7 years. It just the beginning now. Many of these buses are quite old and their engines are polluting the air.

[soistalker]

It now takes thirty minutes to get from Jomtien to central pattaya road in a Baht bus. Pretty much any time of day.

with more tour buses, it will be worse. And city hall doesn't have, hasn't had, anyone smart enough to deal with even the simplest of problems.

[mrfaroukh]

Many Zero dollar tourist from China are in town. There are always 5 to 6 large buses at my hotel and they full of zero dollar tourists.

[soistalker]

 They think that just increasing the tourist numbers is the best way to go. But Chinese aren't going to spend any money. 

The authorities made it so difficult for western guys to live in Thailand. The visa rules show that we aren't wanted. Most westerns would spend $1000+ a month at least while living in pattaya. That's probably 10X more than the average Chinese will spend in the local economy per trip.