Why I can only see great things ahead for Pattaya

By Dan Cheeseman

 

 

I was with a businessman who operates around the Soi LK area of Pattaya the other day and he was moaning about the state of Pattaya. For him the town was all doom and gloom and any talk of a golden era emerging he would scoff at.

 

But I should not be surprised as his paradigm of interest in Pattaya is fixed firmly in this party area that caters for older Western men. And for sure this market has been hit over the last few years.

 

The polarisation of view could not have been any more different from when I met with other business people at the Argentinian polo cup at the Polo and Equestrian centre in East Pattaya over the weekend. Here I met many property developers, industrial to International school leaders and ambassadors; all of whom talked of a wonderful future ahead for Pattaya.

 

Polo in Pattaya

 

It’s obvious really whenever a region goes through such a rapid change like Pattaya that some will win and others will lose, it is inevitable.

 

We can point blame to factors like the strength of the Thai baht but there is a bigger piece at play here: Pattaya is changing.

 

Where upon Pattaya once relied on the revenues of the retiree expat market, now it has its eyes focussed on other emerging riches that will better guarrantee a brighter more prosperous future. Like it or not.

 

I can see both sides to the argument but have to side with the one that embraces the future – after all, what choice do you have but to adapt if you still want to get the most out of being in Pattaya? No where is fun if you don’t have much money.

 

Full story: https://danaboutthailand.com/2019/12/17/why-i-can-only-see-great-things-ahead-for-pattaya/

 

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3 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Why I can only see great things ahead for Pattaya

8 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

I can see both sides to the argument but have to side with the one that embraces the future – after all, what choice do you have but to adapt if you still want to get the most out of being in Pattaya?

 

so your winning strategy is "hope for the best"

 

 

 

 

Edited December 22, 20196 yr by GeorgeCross

Yep. Families around the world are saving up money to visit the world class family resort.

2 minutes ago, fishtank said:

Yep. Families around the world are saving up money to visit the world class family resort.

It's hardly world class, but there is plenty for families to do in the area.  Thai families make up a huge proportion of families using the water parks, children's play areas in the many malls and other attractions.  

Besides that “blue colored park” at Bali Hai and the white folks being replaced by a bunch of low budget carriers Indians what has improved over the last 6 years?

Icon Siam at Bang Saray. I didn't know that. Or the new water park in Naklua.

27 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

all of whom talked of a wonderful future ahead for Pattaya.

................and would you like a sales brochure !

 

Maybe these super rich people and the Mayor of Pattaya would like to try getting from one side of Pattaya to the other in A. a wheel Chair, and B. pushing a buggy, without help or going on the road. You attract a family now - they wont come back. Guaranteed

Argentinian polo cup at the Polo and Equestrian center. umm so its not a one trick pony town for some wedged up polo ponies how riveting????

what drugs you taking, i want some, some business men they are, with a major developer cancelling the next phase,  thousands of new builds still empty, TAT chasing eskimos for the next tourist influx. i wont bore those with a brain any more. only to say 6 condos for sale in my small block. not to mention Bangkok where the outlook is the same. oops, i just did.,

Maybe a Pattaya family vacation would present a great opportunity for father to have a talk with adolescent son.

 

Father ... "Son, I want to talk to you about sex".

Son ... "Sure Dad, what do you want to know?".

Edited December 22, 20196 yr by neeray
punctuation

sorry but what a complete pile of nonsense and a total waste of reading

The popularity and the attraction of a place depends on many factors and at times will periodically wane and surge in demand, to say that Pattaya is will only get better is a huge bamble...enough for one major mishaps or an accident to stop people coming all together and that place will turn into a ghost town, as it happened in many other places....

Can I have some of whatever he was taking, I am in need of some uplifting.

Yesterday in the afternoon I was sitting in Central Pattaya on the Beach on one of the plastic cubes for a while. The beach was full of Indian and Chinese people (not from a tour group). I was the only Farang in this area. Next to me was an Indian guy with his Thai bar lady sitting and they had a very friendly conversation about India and about Pattaya. Other plastic cubes were occupied by Chinese. It was the first time in more than 20 years that I had the feeling to be a complete stranger here.

Now, now, don't be so hard on Mr Cheeseman. He might be correct. Just a few simple things need to be done to make this real.

 

Put in place a serious municipal government, serious professional police, fire and ambulance services, clean and effective garbage pickup service, a ground-up infrastructure rebuild, a marine engineering assessment led by foreign specialists to rebuild and maintain the beach area, impose residential zoning and commercial zoning, ban buses from the downtown, and dependable flood-proof transit system.

 

Now, that wasn't so hard was it?

7 minutes ago, Kaoboi Bebobp said:

Now, now, don't be so hard on Mr Cheeseman. He might be correct. Just a few simple things need to be done to make this real.

 

Put in place a serious municipal government, serious professional police, fire and ambulance services, clean and effective garbage pickup service, a ground-up infrastructure rebuild, a marine engineering assessment led by foreign specialists to rebuild and maintain the beach area, impose residential zoning and commercial zoning, ban buses from the downtown, and dependable flood-proof transit system.

 

Now, that wasn't so hard was it?

Then you woke up?

Dan Cheeseman seems like only you can see it

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Where upon Pattaya once relied on the revenues of the retiree expat market, now it has its eyes focussed on other emerging riches that will better guarrantee a brighter more prosperous future.

Such as? You failed to mention that. What a surprise.

 

Presumably you meant the 4 Indian men crowded round one girl with one drink and 4 straws. Or maybe the coachload of Chinese low rent tourists following the flag down Walking Street?

Well, I will have to ask my cousin when I visit Pattaya in January, he will give me his 

opinion of how at least Jomtien Beach portion of Pattaya is doing.

Last time I was there, the garbage was not being picked up at Chinese New Year

and I had thought that was still considered High season.  I am still happy to only go visit

as a traveller, and not become and expat. So far so good.

Geezer

1 hour ago, Kaoboi Bebobp said:

Now, now, don't be so hard on Mr Cheeseman. He might be correct. Just a few simple things need to be done to make this real.

 

Put in place a serious municipal government, serious professional police, fire and ambulance services, clean and effective garbage pickup service, a ground-up infrastructure rebuild, a marine engineering assessment led by foreign specialists to rebuild and maintain the beach area, impose residential zoning and commercial zoning, ban buses from the downtown, and dependable flood-proof transit system.

 

Now, that wasn't so hard was it?

You could say the same for every part of Thailand.

2 hours ago, Destiny1990 said:

Besides that “blue colored park” at Bali Hai and the white folks being replaced by a bunch of low budget carriers Indians what has improved over the last 6 years?

The massive brownish water park called "Talay" & it's free

To suggest that somehow Polo is going to lead a resurgence of tourists in Pattaya is a bit of a stretch...

 

The band continued to play music as if nothing was happening as the Titanic sank...

16 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

To suggest that somehow Polo is going to lead a resurgence of tourists in Pattaya is a bit of a stretch...

 

The band continued to play music as if nothing was happening as the Titanic sank...

"Nearer my God to thee.."

Frankly, I just do not see it either. Sure, it will improve for a few wealthy developers, with the kind of laser tight marketing required to attract a tiny, but wealthy segment of society. But, I sure do not see life improving for the vast majority of the lower and middle class people living there, nor for the tourists who visit, nor for most ex-pats who call Pattaya home. More congestion, continued poor and inept law enforcement, more traffic, more pollution, and more development. Does that sound like an increasing quality of life for most? 

 

Of course small things, like the newly proposed high speed rail will help. That is a very positive development. The more public transportation options an area has, the better. What Pattaya really needs is a monorail system, for getting around the super congested main beach areas. And a total ban on buses and large trucks, within that zone from the beach, to Soi Bukkhao, from South Pattaya Road, to Central road. 

3 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Maybe these super rich people and the Mayor of Pattaya would like to try getting from one side of Pattaya to the other in A. a wheel Chair, and B. pushing a buggy, without help or going on the road. You attract a family now - they wont come back. Guaranteed

Let them cross 2nd rd at the rare times of LIGHT traffic.

A survival game.

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Dan Cheeseman seems like only you can see it

Isn't he still trying to flog his gaff on Pratumnak..........

I am sure these more than a few defenders of Pattaya on this Forum. I first went to Pattaya in 1992; stopping for a few days when I worked in the Middle East. Travelled there many times from that date until I moved there in 2001. Moved to BKK in 2003 for work as I did not like making the commute on terrible roads; but still ent down for week ends. Moved back there again in 2010 when I retired; and divested in Pattaya 2013 when I realized it lost its charm.  The Current State of Pattaya would like Las Vegas, NV cracking down on Gambling and vices; Doubling Accommodation prices; Tripling Food and Prices; and pointing you to polluted beaches for Family fun filled vacations.

Edited December 22, 20196 yr by exparte

2 hours ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

Well, I will have to ask my cousin when I visit Pattaya in January, he will give me his 

opinion of how at least Jomtien Beach portion of Pattaya is doing.

Last time I was there, the garbage was not being picked up at Chinese New Year

and I had thought that was still considered High season.  I am still happy to only go visit

as a traveller, and not become and expat. So far so good.

Geezer

Leave lots of money

We had dinner with a mate & his GF last night, he got back into town just over 3 weeks ago, due to the state of the £ he delayed his return and continued with his P/T job back home, he has his own place in Naklua, a pickup & M/cycle, I asked him how things were over in Naklua these days, seeing as it used to be a busy bustling part of town, his response, Dead, he said most bars were empty and shutting shop not much after 10.30 pm, same with restaurants, no tourists.

 

It appears to be the same everywhere, I was in one of my favourite watering holes yesterday out on the darkside, more staff than customers, crazy situation.