What Is The Future Of Pattaya’s Walking Street?

[Megasin1]

They won't be content until its just an inane pastiche of corporate boringness. I am sorry, but whether you consider it is a sleazy, rat infested dump hole or not, one thing it most definitely is, is unique and an attraction. Anyone who goes to Pattaya inevitably wants to walk down WS, simply for the experience, including "nice family" people. Left in the hands of faceless officials it will become as interesting as watching paint dry. When you allow design by committee thats what you get. As others have intelligently said "if it aint broke then dont fix it". Tourist destinations left to evolve naturally are far better than those that are "designed" by so called social experts. If WS is to do and be replaced by something else then let that be as natural evolution and stop interfering as you really don't know what you are doing.

[Leaver]

 

The Thai landlords pushed the consumer market past what it was prepared to pay, via their tenants, pre covid. 

 

Without a market correction in rents, Walking Street will die a slow death. 

 

Edited May 27, 2022 by Leaver

[peter zwart]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

However, there is a growing consensus that Pattaya must rely on its traditional tourist markets after more than two years as a ghost town.

Nooooo, realy???? Never thought of it.

[Hellfire]

Lonely and undersexed men from all over the world are such a huge (and exclusive) market. And it will only expand in the future.  It must be a pure insanity to change the city's strategy and to start to compete with 100 much  better places for the family (boring) vacations. Please, don't do it! Use your competitive advantage, you fools.

 

 

Edited May 27, 2022 by Hellfire

[Leaver]

32 minutes ago, Hellfire said:

Lonely and undersexed men from all over the world are such a huge (and exclusive) market. And it will only expand in the future.  It must be a pure insanity to change the city's strategy and to start to compete with 100 much  better places for the family (boring) vacations. Please, don't do it! Use your competitive advantage, you fools.

 

 

 

Lonely and undersexed men can find the exact same experience / service a short distance away in LK Metro and surrounds, for a considerably cheaper price.

 

So what future does Walking Street have, unless it can compete on price point? 

[natway09]

Just let it take it"s course.

I can be a lot of fun.

Half the members on here must use walking sticks or their memories are shot.

[champers]

5 hours ago, Kerryd said:

 All you had to do was look at how many Chinese and Indian tourists were "walking" up and down Walking Street and how few were actually in the bars, shops, restaurants and shopping malls.

I have not met one single business owner who says he was making money from that "demographic".

You mustn't have met the Indian and Chinese owners of establishments that cater to their fellow countrymen.

 

[StayinThailand2much]

6 hours ago, Tom H said:

For the Chinese in pyjamas walking behind a flag and buying a lot in the future?

A few years ago, I observed a good number of those Chinese tour groups, walking up, then back Walking Street in the early evening. They didn't buy as much as a bottle of water. (Watching them in Hong Kong, same thing...)

[Hellfire]

30 minutes ago, Leaver said:

 

Lonely and undersexed men can find the exact same experience / service a short distance away in LK Metro and surrounds, for a considerably cheaper price.

 

So what future does Walking Street have, unless it can compete on price point? 

No they cannot. Pattaya (and Thailand) is so unique in many ways. It is not just the price but the whole packet experience. A kind of special chemistry, impossible to reproduce at another place. 
 

 

Edited May 27, 2022 by Hellfire

[StayinThailand2much]

11 minutes ago, champers said:

You mustn't have met the Indian and Chinese owners of establishments that cater to their fellow countrymen.

Big C in Pratunam, Bangkok, made a roaring business with the Chinese pre-pandemic. And yes, a few select restaurants and hotels in Pattaya must have made good money too.

Edited May 27, 2022 by StayinThailand2much

[KhaoYai]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Before and during the Covid pandemic, Pattaya authorities had suggested that the resort’s future might resemble Miami, Singapore or Abu Dhabi in which business centers lie apparently side-by-side with leisure pursuits.

Crazy as it was, it was more than a suggestion if I remember correctly.  A whole new 'Family Resort' was planned - idiots!

[Leaver]

14 minutes ago, natway09 said:

Just let it take it"s course.

I can be a lot of fun.

Half the members on here must use walking sticks or their memories are shot.

 

Walking Street is a tourist trap. 

 

Now, with the internet, and competition nearby in LK Metro, with a quick Google, tourists go to Walking Street for some photos, but party elsewhere where it is cheaper. 

 

What value does Walking Street offer its customers, over its competitors? 

[Leaver]

6 minutes ago, Hellfire said:

No they cannot. Pattaya (and Thailand) is so unique in many ways. It is not just the price but the whole packet experience. A kind of special chemistry, impossible to reproduce at another place. 
 

 

 

I think you need to read my post again. 

 

Walking Street to LK Metro is a short distance away, where prices are halved, and the "packet experience" is the same. 

[champers]

10 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Big C in Pratunam, Bangkok, made a roaring business with the Chinese pre-pandemic. And yes, a few select restaurants and hotels in Pattaya must have made good money too.

I was posting about nightclubs and gogos on Walking St in Pattaya owned by Indians and Chinese.

Not sure what relevance supermarkets in Bangkok have to this thread but hey-ho.

[StayinThailand2much]

9 minutes ago, champers said:

I was posting about nightclubs and gogos on Walking St in Pattaya owned by Indians and Chinese.

Not sure what relevance supermarkets in Bangkok have to this thread but hey-ho.

Why so serious? I also mentioned Pattaya. As for nightclubs or a-go-gos, I never saw any Chinese groups or individuals in the bars. All I ever saw them do on Walking Street was walking up and down, following the guide with the flag.

[Hellfire]

18 minutes ago, Leaver said:

 

I think you need to read my post again. 

 

Walking Street to LK Metro is a short distance away, where prices are halved, and the "packet experience" is the same. 

Ok. I am talking about the general strategy of the place. And the Walking street is its heart. After they destroy Walking street - there is no chance other places will survive.

 

 

Edited May 27, 2022 by Hellfire

[kingstonkid]

I think next weekend is going to be interesting for a lot of areas of Thailand.  Once the ban is lifted we will see how many people go to these areas.  We will also see how many businesses open and survive.

 

This goes for Walking street Patpong  Nana and other locations.

 

The people that own the buildings want to keep them there because even if there are not patrons they make their money on rental fee.

 

If the people can not pay the rent and there is no one to take over the businesses then we might see change but until then these are all cash cows for rich Thais.

 

 

[Boyn]

9 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Why so modest?

Monte Carlo, Nizza, Waikiki, Gold coast...

 

 

Gt. Yarmouth

[Boomer6969]

9 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Why so modest?

Monte Carlo, Nizza, Waikiki, Gold coast...

 

 

Tijuana?

[Leaver]

26 minutes ago, Hellfire said:

Ok. I am talking about the general strategy of the place. And the Walking street is its heart. After they destroy Walking street - there is no chance other places will survive.

 

 

 

Walking Street was already destroyed, pre covid, based on price point.  It's that price point that saw other areas take a large portion of Walking Street's market share. 

[Leaver]

19 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

I think next weekend is going to be interesting for a lot of areas of Thailand.  Once the ban is lifted we will see how many people go to these areas.  We will also see how many businesses open and survive.

 

This goes for Walking street Patpong  Nana and other locations.

 

The people that own the buildings want to keep them there because even if there are not patrons they make their money on rental fee.

 

If the people can not pay the rent and there is no one to take over the businesses then we might see change but until then these are all cash cows for rich Thais.

 

 

 

When covid rent discounts end, then we will truly see how many businesses survive. 

[Hellfire]

1 hour ago, Leaver said:

 

Walking Street was already destroyed, pre covid, based on price point.  It's that price point that saw other areas take a large portion of Walking Street's market share. 

Whoever was interested in the “price point” knew that there were much cheaper places around Pattaya. For example, the soi 6 and many other places. The Walking street was not supposed to be the cheapest place in Pattaya. It was an introduction to the temple of Love and its Grand Welcome Entrance. Pattaya’s Arc de Lust.

 

 

Edited May 27, 2022 by Hellfire

[Leaver]

13 minutes ago, Hellfire said:

Whoever was interested in the “price point” knew that there were much cheaper places around Pattaya. For example, the soi 6 and many other places. The Walking street was not supposed to be the cheapest place in Pattaya. It was an introduction to the temple of Love and its Grand Welcome Entrance. Pattaya’s Arc de Lust.

 

 

 

It's not about "cheap."  It's about what the market is prepared to pay, and pre covid, the price point of Walking Street exceeded what the majority of the market was prepared to pay.

 

It would be different if Walking Street offered a unique experience, but it doesn't.  The same experience can be had just a short distance away.

 

Walking Street estabishments were quiet pre covid.  What's has changed to turn that around?   

[Hellfire]

8 minutes ago, Leaver said:

 

It's not about "cheap."  It's about what the market is prepared to pay, and pre covid, the price point of Walking Street exceeded what the majority of the market was prepared to pay.

 

It would be different if Walking Street offered a unique experience, but it doesn't.  The same experience can be had just a short distance away.

 

Walking Street estabishments were quiet pre covid.  What's has changed to turn that around?   

It did offer a unique experience for the newcomers. And I was one of them in 2015. Later, I found other and much cheaper venues. But my first memories are those of the Walking streets and I like those.

[StayinThailand2much]

45 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

7-11s?

That bugged me over the past couple years; more and more convenience stores, pharmacies, and fast-food restaurants on Walking Street. - I want a night out, why would I want to go where there's a 7-Eleven right next to a Boots, and just opposite, there's another 7-Eleven... Do people really venture to Walking Street these days to buy paracetamol and bottled water?

Edited May 27, 2022 by StayinThailand2much

[StayinThailand2much]

36 minutes ago, Leaver said:

Walking Street estabishments were quiet pre covid.  What's has changed to turn that around?   

I watched Walking Street (business) decline slowly over time since the early 2000s with the rest of Pattaya. When I first went to Pattaya in 2000, there was no Terminal 21, and way fewer 7-Eleven stores on Walking Street. Pattaya, and Walking Street were fun places to visit, and crowded with Western tourists and expats.  

[Onerak]

They should turn it into  a full fledged sin city. Allow gambling and casinos and legalize prostitution. THen you would see it will just boom. No police harassment. Girls can work with ease without constantly paying to the cops. I bet many Bangkok girls will move to Pattaya. Chinese love gambling and casinos and they will also flock to Pattaya in greater numbers. To add a little class, set up a university outside Pattaya beyond Jomtien. Keep Jomtien free of "sin activities". 

Edited May 27, 2022 by Onerak

[Jonathan Swift]

10 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Sadly Pattaya is still living in the past...

Walking street could have been re-modeled into something which was family friendly and just as if not more profitable.

Unfortunately they want to hang on to the old model of it being a street full of cat-houses.

That only draws in the lower rung, not the real money people.

With all due respect - Unless you have a crystal ball into the future you are simply speculating according to your own preferences and biases. In my 50 years in the bar and entertainment business as a musical entertainer and designer one of the most common fatal mistakes is when someone buys a place and tries to reinvent it in a way that ignores the preexisting patronage and history, and simply goes against the grain of traditional business models. ESPECIALLY if they expect to change something from a regular neighborhood bar or venue into an upscale attraction. Overall economic recovery from Covid will take time. Right now is not a good time for anyone to invest in anything, save new smaller venues taking advantage of lower rents in the abandoned former businesses. In the US I've seen as many as a half dozen "rehabilitated" venues in a given year fail in 1 to six months. It got to where I could predict it. It was a tough and unforgiving economy where I lived. The idea that you can take a place like Walking St., established over decades as a particular kind of attraction with its own identity, raze it, put millions into it, completely change its identity and overcome its past reputation, turn it into something it has never been, and then take an "if you build it they will come"  position HOPING the people with money will show up is extremely risky - as there is no track record, business model,  or template for the success such a thing in that type of situation (Thailand entertainement districts of that type), except those that ended up in  failures. How are you going to lure investors? If I was an investor I wouldn't touch it. Is the government going to be willing to gamble with huge amounts of money? It looks like a big fat no. The sure, practical, and sensible thing which doesn't gamble with existing livelihoods as well a huge amount of capital is to let it come back the way it was. There is ample evidence to think that will work. There are enough places still open there to indicate the small businesses would be happy to come back. It will follow the course of Covid restrictions and tourism. As to the well off potential tourists they will come as well and spend their money. Bangla Rd in Patong for example has come back about 80%, and I had a great time there in April. Soi Buakao is thriving, as far as viable business models go, proving that there is a potential clientele which would likely return to Walking St. So, the difference between me and you is I am speaking from direct experience and my intuitive business sense, as well as reliable examples of business models. You are just guessing with wishful thinking and obviously little or no actual experience in that kind of business, no disrespect intended. Cheers. 

Edited May 27, 2022 by Jonathan Swift

[charmonman]

12 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

You must not get much! Apart from other areas in Thailand, especially in Bangkok, many other countries have areas where girls can be obtained for a small or large fee. Even in some countries you wouldn't think of like Indonesia or Dubai, both Muslim countries. But certainly Mexico, Philippines, Germany, even Nigeria!

I have been many places, including some of of those you list and I have not seen anything that really compares to Pattaya in scope, except perhaps Olongapo/Subic in 1987. Mind you, I wasn't really looking too hard.

[jacko45k]

15 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Millionaires are not going to jet half-way around the globe to visit a knocking shop on a seedy street.

Pattaya will remain as it did with the sex-tourist back-packer brigade.

The two - week variety make good customers. Middle East workers, and IT Nomads, whatever they are....back packers are usually penniless and too woke to enjoy Pattaya.