What’s happening to Pattaya? Coaches everywhere!

[soistalker]

4 minutes ago, mrfaroukh said:

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.

Are they loud and annoying?

Just taking a shot in the dark here.

[Paul Laycock1]

Becker, I read the headlines only and anything else that may interest me.

Not the rubbish that you and other posters seem to cry about. Heard it all before standing in line for my extension of stay in Savannaket.

 

My passport is about to or has run out, my wife has left me, where is the best place to exchange my money etc etc.

 

Get over it it's called tourism.

[Thaidream]

Regarding the poster who thinks I have done a 180 on Pattaya- I have not.  I still believe Walking Street is a dead future area simply because the chinese and Thais who come to Pattaya have no desire to go there and certainly do not spend money there. In addition, eventually the beachside business' will be forced out because their existence has been deemed illegal. I foresee Walking Street devoid of sexual services and more and more Pubs just like you see now in Bangkok.

 

The long term plans for Pattaya are to close and control the sex outlets and make them as invisible as possible. The malls will continue to be built as well and attract Thais from Bangkok as well as the Chinese. All of this will exacerbate the overbuilding; pollution and traffic and as it moves forward - Jomtien becomes more and more popular. However, the same ills that affect Pattaya will affect Jomtien- simply because nothing is ever done to curb the overbuilding; clean dirty water and beaches and put in the needed infrastructure. Instead we get pork projects such as a tunnel which is not needed and putting electric lines under the ground instead of solving the sewage problems and flooding.

 

As a place to live- long term or invest- I would never pick Pattaya or Jomtien.  Both areas are being destroyed from an environmental standpoint. However, until Thais are schooled in such things as environmental issues; how to handle pollution and generally become aware of noise abatement- they will still come and try and get more chinese tourists to come- simply exacerbating the destruction.

[Peterw42]

1 hour ago, JSixpack said:

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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

 

 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.

 

 

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:

 

 

 

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.

 

Good post, but you should know by now, you cant let the truth get in the way of a good story.

[Thaidream]

The Pattaya Administration only spends money when it absolutely has to regarding infrastructure and environmental issues.Their concept on tourism is that they don't have to do much since there is always a group of tourists that will replace the last group who gives up on the place.  Those in vogue now are the Chinese and weekend Thais both of which do not care if the place is overbuilt; too noisy; and the water is polluted. However, their spending patterns are not like the 'tourists' of old. They are not interested in sex venues; beer bars or Walking Street.

It is interesting to me that Pattaya has built more 4 and 5 Star Hotels over the last 10 years than budget hotels.  I would really be interested in seeing the vacancy rates and who is staying in these hotels.  In my mind- they are overpriced for what one is getting- which is a polluted atmosphere; dirty seawater and bent vendors as well as the increase in crime. 

 

Pattaya and Jomtien will always exist  and have some business but unless the over building; pollution and garbage are controlled- there will not be enough tourists or weekend Thais to sustain real growth. 

My first visit to Pattaya was some 50 years ago when it was pristine; no traffic; real smiles from locals; ad a wonderful place to relax or swim in a clean sea.  If what you see now in Pattaya is considered progress- I feel sorry for you.

[Jen65]

I wrote about this "coach" problems some time ago - the roads in Pattaya and around the backroads in Na Jomtien were never designed for this influx of coaches and are giving way in some places .  I also suggested "out of town" coach parks !!  Its the only solution .

[JSixpack]

4 hours ago, mrfaroukh said:

Many Zero dollar tourist from China are in town.

 

No, there aren't. Those were banned a year or so ago. 

 

Quote

There are always 5 to 6 large buses at my hotel and they full of zero dollar tourists.

 

You'll need to get used to the radical idea that buses can be full with regular tourists. 

 

4 hours ago, soistalker said:

 They think that just increasing the tourist numbers is the best way to go.

 

 

No. If they did, then they wouldn't have banned the zero dollar tours. Simple.

 

Quote

But Chinese aren't going to spend any money.

 

 

They spend quite a lot, just not in your favorite beer bar and fleabag hotel over on Soi Buakhao.

 

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The authorities made it so difficult for western guys to live in Thailand. The visa rules show that we aren't wanted.

 

 

The visa rules show they don't want living here the impecunious, Western OR Eastern, who don't spend that much, may well have no visible source of income, and are more likely to create problems. Good guys in, bad guys out--they got fed up with the bad guys. In this Thailand is hardly alone among nations.

 

Various nationalities and ages may purchase a long-term Elite visa. And they treat all tourists the same, visa-wise, so enough with the silly victimism.

 

Quote

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.

 

But so would Japanese or Singaporeans. You seem fixated on "westerns," mistakenly adhering to the TVF Poster Golden Eggs Theory Of Thai Economics. They're welcome to spend that and live here with the correct visa for living here. You've confused "spending" with "revenue generated," BTW.

Edited November 27, 2017 by JSixpack

[Naam]

3 hours ago, Thaidream said:

Regarding the poster who thinks I have done a 180 on Pattaya- I have not.  I still believe Walking Street is a dead future area simply because the chinese and Thais who come to Pattaya have no desire to go there and certainly do not spend money there. In addition, eventually the beachside business' will be forced out because their existence has been deemed illegal. I foresee Walking Street devoid of sexual services and more and more Pubs just like you see now in Bangkok.

it's clear why you selected "Thaidream" as nick. keep on dreaming.

[SiSePuede419]

"I have lived here 16 years..."

 

Ah, yes. 

 

Way back when Pattaya was a sleepy fishing village with nothing to do but "shoot the golfs".  Fore! ?

[newnative]

5 hours ago, mrfaroukh said:

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.

Umm.  So, if they are staying at your hotel I guess that makes you a zero dollar tourist, too.

[Oztruckie]

Some people might be surprised about the number of condos the Chinese are buying here in Pattaya,my building for example,with 146 units,nearly half of them are owned by chinese people,all this rot about Pattaya is stuffed you people need to open your eyes,seems a few people need to go wrap themselves in cotton wool complaining about a little bit of black diesel bus smoke.

[craigt3365]

2 minutes ago, Oztruckie said:

Some people might be surprised about the number of condos the Chinese are buying here in Pattaya,my building for example,with 146 units,nearly half of them are owned by chinese people,all this rot about Pattaya is stuffed you people need to open your eyes,seems a few people need to go wrap themselves in cotton wool complaining about a little bit of black diesel bus smoke.

We've had several homes in our village purchased by Chinese. Not cheap homes. Very nice people.

[HLover]

Solution: find something more enjoyable to do besides counting coaches and solving problems that you will have zero influence over. 

[JSixpack]

22 hours ago, Thaidream said:

 I still believe Walking Street is a dead future area simply because the chinese and Thais who come to Pattaya have no desire to go there and certainly do not spend money there.

1

1

 

Addicted2Pattaya, on 2008-10-13 00:39:08:

If pattaya did die. where would be the next best place ?

 

Sommaz, on 2008-10-13 10:47:57:

Heaven of course.

 

 

Edited November 28, 2017 by JSixpack

[JSixpack]

2 hours ago, hyku1147 said:

Reality check.

 

 

 

No, just the usual silly cartoon. A reality check looks like this and is ignored:

 

On 11/26/2017 at 10:44 PM, JSixpack said:

Which ones near the corner of 2nd Rd & Soi Diana? After you've identified them, pls tell us what danger they pose. 

 

 

Edited November 28, 2017 by JSixpack

[balo]

On 11/26/2017 at 4:11 PM, KittenKong said:

Tour buses for Chinese.

And Russians !  In Naklua I spotted several buses with Russians in . Cheap tourists they are. 

 

[Naam]

1 minute ago, balo said:

And Russians !  In Naklua I spotted several buses with Russians in . Cheap tourists they are. 

 

whenever i am downtown i see hordes of cheap and despicable Farang tourists and very few Russians.

[balo]

3 hours ago, Naam said:

whenever i am downtown i see hordes of cheap and despicable Farang tourists and very few Russians.

Farang that burn money in bars , yes call them cheap . But at least they spend money . Russians in cheap holiday tours in buses , I doubt they will spend more money . 

 

[Naam]

11 minutes ago, balo said:

Farang that burn money in bars , yes call them cheap . But at least they spend money . Russians in cheap holiday tours in buses , I doubt they will spend more money . 

 

who gives a flying for your doubts?

[thaibeachlovers]

On ‎11‎/‎26‎/‎2017 at 5:07 PM, darksidedog said:

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.

LOL. I suggested that exact same solution before, a few times, on the many, many similar threads on TVF Pattaya sub forum.

All been said before, many times.

Not going to change in my lifetime.