Officials Concerned Over Potential Overcrowding in Pattaya and Phuket

[Aussie999]

From the article, seems more of an infrastructure problem... the economy of Pattaya and Phuket are based on tourism. Perhaps the government needs to promote other places  eg Hua Hin, Chumphon,  Surat Thani, Krabi, even places away from the ciast  give tourist an incentive.

[Peterphuket]

"Officials Concerned Over Potential Overcrowding in Pattaya and Phuket"

 

That's because they've sleeping for more than 25 years, by the way that is not unusual.

They should have already denied access to the project developers.

 

But yes, the big money makes you want to leave your thought behind for a moment.

 

[Brn2Trvl]

Allowing non Visa tourists worked, sales went up. Now it’s time to cut the free Visa entry back accordingly.

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

In the words of a Thai Cabinet minister, "We want quality tourists from now on."

Quality tourists don't want Walking street, Nana, Bangla road, Soi Cowboy Pat Pong and the rest.

They want beach resorts with niche cafes, and restaurants, not being attacked by gold grabbing Shemales, they don't want, "hello handsome man" at every bar bellowed out in front of their wives..

They're not interested in scantily clad hookers 20 deep outside every watering hole... they don't want Tuk-Tuks scamming them for every ride.

You want quality, provide quality venues and services, and get the scum off the streets.

[connda]

Talk about government officials who simply can't be happy:

Feast - unhappy
Famine - unhappy

[newnative]

    For Pattaya, sadly, it's only going to get far worse as the massive development of a number of mega projects continues.  In north Pattaya/Wongamat, you have Arom nearing completion and three huge projects, Centre Point 3, Once Wongamat, and Wyndham Grand getting started.   Akara Hotel just opened and the land near it to the old Best supermarket is being cleared for new development there. 

    In Jomtien, a second Copacabana is planned, to go with the massive first one.  Plus, Skypark Lucean, also quite large. In Pratamnuk, Riviera Malibu will be joining the other Riviera projects.  Across from Axis, the huge Grand Solaire will be Pattaya's tallest building at 67 stories.  On the Darkside, dozens and dozens of new housing projects scattered all over.  

    Just a small sampling.  Pattaya Realty lists 138 new project developments in Pattaya.  Pattaya continues to boom, but the infrastructure lags far behind, with little forward thinking being demonstrated.  For several months, Sukhumvit Road by the North Pattaya Road intersection has been torn up, causing a continuing huge traffic mess that still isn't done.  As long as the road is already being torn up for a lengthy period, what a great opportunity it would have been to get started on an overpass over that very busy intersection.  A good start could have been made.  Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

[jonclark]

Utter farce - Offering visa-free schemes to Indias, Chinese, etc and then complaining about over-tourism. A bit like drinking a bottle of Tequila and then complaining when it makes you drunk. 

[john donson]

well taxing people who live, work, married , have kids, retired, will be taxed and tourists will not...

[Bobthegimp]

1 hour ago, Aussie999 said:

Perhaps the government needs to promote other places  eg Hua Hin, Chumphon,  Surat Thani, Krabi, even places away from the ciast  give tourist an incentive

 

They'd have to ship quality poo ntang to those destinations and set up the correct infrastructure to cater to the punters who support the local economy.  The temples for plausible deniability are already in place. 

[sambum]

First you want them  - then you don't? Make your mind(s) up! 🙂 

[wwest5829]

18 hours ago, Yorkshire Tea said:

Time for a "tourist tax", just like Venice is introducing 🙂

Heard the report this morning. Basically entering during heaviest business hours and it ifs a $5.00 USA equivalent daily entrance fee. Ringing in my ear, “be careful what you wish for …”.

Edited April 26 by wwest5829

[sambum]

 "We want quality tourists from now on."

 

Too late - visa free entry for Russians and Chinese etc. has already taken its toll.

 

Did somebody not tell TAT that it's quality you want not quantity? - that's all they're interested in, but now you've got the quantity, you want the quality? (Again?)

 

And "Chris Flynn, CEO of the World Tourism Association, suggested that Thai officials appear to have not foreseen the toll the influx could take."

No kidding?

 

And the picture accompanying the article will certainly not attract the type of "quality tourist" that is hoped for - more likely tourists like the the gunloving Russian who has just been arrested:- 

Edited April 26 by sambum

[DonniePeverley]

Something surely needs to be done about the Chinese busses. They need route organising, so they can't just go down a tite soi and block everything in it's path. 

[DonniePeverley]

1 hour ago, newnative said:

    For Pattaya, sadly, it's only going to get far worse as the massive development of a number of mega projects continues.  In north Pattaya/Wongamat, you have Arom nearing completion and three huge projects, Centre Point 3, Once Wongamat, and Wyndham Grand getting started.   Akara Hotel just opened and the land near it to the old Best supermarket is being cleared for new development there. 

    In Jomtien, a second Copacabana is planned, to go with the massive first one.  Plus, Skypark Lucean, also quite large. In Pratamnuk, Riviera Malibu will be joining the other Riviera projects.  Across from Axis, the huge Grand Solaire will be Pattaya's tallest building at 67 stories.  On the Darkside, dozens and dozens of new housing projects scattered all over.  

    Just a small sampling.  Pattaya Realty lists 138 new project developments in Pattaya.  Pattaya continues to boom, but the infrastructure lags far behind, with little forward thinking being demonstrated.  For several months, Sukhumvit Road by the North Pattaya Road intersection has been torn up, causing a continuing huge traffic mess that still isn't done.  As long as the road is already being torn up for a lengthy period, what a great opportunity it would have been to get started on an overpass over that very busy intersection.  A good start could have been made.  Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

 

 

Pattaya now has many domestic tourists - that once would never venture there. 

 

 

[Thingamabob]

Entirely due to the TAT's quantity rather than quality policy. This was always going to be the result.

[Emdog]

The solution is quite simple: Thailand needs more tourists and Thailand needs less tourists

Problem sorted

[thesetat]

16 hours ago, Sigmund said:

To much is done to make hordes of tourist teenage drunks come in.

 

Not enough is done to encourage the foreign retiree home owners to come and stay longer with more simple handling and less paperwork for  long stay visas for the retirees for instance.

Look at it from their side... once tourist comes for 7 days... spends an average of 700 baht not including drinking or hotels.. times that by 1000. Then there is you the retiree. Going out only sometimes spending an average of 700 per week not including drinking and your rental or payment for a condo. Times that by 1000.. Which will put more money into the economy? You or the tourist? 

The foreigner living here is relaxed and does not go out every day spending money. The tourist goes out everyday to experience more in their short time here. You will always lose because the most money will always prevail in Thailand. 

[freeworld]

Have to start charging a toll fee and limiting foreigner visitor numbers as they are doing in Venice in Italy.

 

Life was so much better before the internet.

Edited April 26 by freeworld

[Cabradelmar]

At 30+ million per year... There is in affect 1 new tourist landing in Thailand every second of every day of the year... If they cared about over tourism they'd have done something about it long ago. Their just mad the tourist don't spend more money, and are now destroying the environment and infrastructure. With little effort to repair or improve the situation. Until they stop building new hotels and resorts, this problem only gets bigger. Pattaya and Phuket are lost. It's too late now.

[smedly]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Signs of excessive tourism in Pattaya include heavy traffic

555

 

so what is the message here - they want to reduce the number of tourists

 

I think they are reading a few stupid headlines recently from spain etc 

 

meanwhile visa free travel is being offered to more and more countries  because ?

[smedly]

1 hour ago, sambum said:

First you want them  - then you don't? Make your mind(s) up! 🙂 

 

I think the s h i t e is about to hit the fan, lets see

[ourmanflint]

"Oh Dear, How Sad Never Mind!"

[zakalwe]

17 hours ago, Sigmund said:

To much is done to make hordes of tourist teenage drunks come in.

 

Not enough is done to encourage the foreign retiree home owners to come and stay longer with more simple handling and less paperwork for  long stay visas for the retirees for instance.

Thailand prefers the tourists that spend like drunken sailors.

[BarraMarra]

6 hours ago, YaiJung said:

It's pretty clear at this point.  To them high quality = Asian.  They, the people in charge, don't like to see white faces tainting the scenery.  Been listening to this talk from the people in charge for decades.  Now that Taksin is back brace yourself for more racism and nationalism.  He is the original farang hater. 

He hates Farangs that much he bought a top premier league team in England.

[NoshowJones]

7 hours ago, YaiJung said:

It's pretty clear at this point.  To them high quality = Asian.  They, the people in charge, don't like to see white faces tainting the scenery.  Been listening to this talk from the people in charge for decades.  Now that Taksin is back brace yourself for more racism and nationalism.  He is the original farang hater. 

Even more than Anutin and the unelected soldier PM in the last "government"??

[PETERTHEEATER]

20 hours ago, Yorkshire Tea said:

Time for a "tourist tax", just like Venice is introducing 🙂

Yes. Checkpoints on all roads in. Five hundred Baht passage fee for each foreigner, Fifty Baht Thai tourists, free for residents. Good luck sorting that out.🤣

[thecyclist]

They can't make up their minds. On the one hand they do everything possible to increase tourism revenue, which can't be done with only "quality " tourists, on the other hand they want  only the big spending " quality" tourists  staying in luxury hotels, which is a tiny minority. Have your cake and eat it too.In the end, it's saying we want your money, but not you.

By the way, Pattaya is only really crowded on weekends, especially long weekends, and that's mainly because of Thais from Bkk visiting. If you want crowded, try the center of Bangkok, Siam Square for example. 

 

[thecyclist]

They can't make up their minds. On the one hand they do everything possible to increase tourism revenue, which can't be done with only "quality " tourists, on the other hand they want  only the big spending " quality" tourists  staying in luxury hotels, which is a tiny minority. Have your cake and eat it too.In the end, it's saying we want your money, but not you.

By the way, Pattaya is only really crowded on weekends, especially long weekends, and that's mainly because of Thais from Bkk visiting. If you want crowded, try the center of Bangkok, Siam Square for example. 

 

[Sydebolle]

Prior Covid = TAT was blowing its own trumpets over 40 million tourists (as if they would have anything to do with this)
Post Covid = overcrowded

Did, by percentage, more Thais than tourists die? Or is it, that the level of tourist went down even further and now becomes unmanageable as the slice of the zero-tourists (China) and the cheaper segment (Russians in Pattaya) increased  compared to Phuket with the richer Russians?

Quality is one thing, quantity is another - fact is that Thailand actually cannot handle either due to its own people not being able to welcome, accomodate or handle the business .... 

[Almer]

Ha ha ha OMG, they are going to follow the Venice model, charge to stop over crowding.