Pattaya Seeks to Transform Image, Promoting Diverse Tourism

[webfact]

 

The private tourism sector in Pattaya convened a workshop yesterday to discuss strategies for repositioning the city as a comprehensive travel destination, aiming to shift its reputation beyond just a nightlife and entertainment hub.

 

Representatives from eight tourism associations, four tourism clubs, and major tour operators within Pattaya City and Chon Buri province attended the event. Government officials from the Chon Buri Provincial Tourism and Sports Administration, Chon Buri Provincial Administrative Organisation, Pattaya City, Pattaya Municipality, and U-Tapao Airport were also present.

 

Thanet Suphasahasrangsi, President of the Chon Buri Tourism Federation, highlighted that Pattaya has undergone a significant transformation, now offering various attractions suitable for all types of visitors, including families. The city boasts numerous sports facilities, such as over 20 world-class golf courses within a 30-kilometre radius.

 

Additionally, Pattaya is home to upscale shopping malls, spas, and international restaurants. However, Thanet noted that the city’s public image remains largely associated with its nightlife and entertainment scene.

To address this issue, Thanet organised a workshop to devise new marketing strategies aimed at promoting Pattaya’s diverse tourism offerings. Participants focused on highlighting the charms of small towns and traditional Thai life in areas such as Sri Racha, Bang Saen, and Phanat Nikhom. The goal is to showcase that Pattaya has much more to offer beyond its nightlife.

 

Tourism officials emphasised the importance of encouraging visitors to explore other activities besides nightlife. They suggested that visiting temples and religious attractions, beaches, islands, traditional Thai cultural attractions, floating and traditional markets, and experiencing traditional Thai music and shows can be equally rewarding.

 

They stressed that learning about Thai culture, language, and life should be prioritised over nightlife. “Ideas gathered from the workshop will be shared with government agencies so that travellers will hopefully recognise Pattaya for more than just its nightlife scene,” Thanet concluded.

 

File photo. Courtesy: Pxhere

 

-- 2024-05-30

 

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[stoner]

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

visiting temples and religious attractions, beaches, islands, traditional Thai cultural attractions, floating and traditional markets, and experiencing traditional Thai music and shows can be equally rewarding.

 

this sums up exactly why i have gone to pattaya before. 

[Korat Kiwi]

Yep, and good luck with that. 

 

Put lipstick on a pig, and it's still a pig. 

[MalcolmB]

5 minutes ago, Korat Kiwi said:

Yep, and good luck with that. 

 

Put lipstick on a pig, and it's still a pig. 

Best pig I ever ate in my life was in Pattaya. 
suckling pig on a spit.

i can not find it in Phuket.

maybe to many Muslims?

[Korat Kiwi]

15 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Best pig I ever ate in my life was in Pattaya. 
suckling pig on a spit.

i can not find it in Phuket.

maybe to many Muslims?

Lechon Baboy in the Philippines... Available everywhere. 

 

Succulent barbecued pork.  Best dish they have. 

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Additionally, Pattaya is home to upscale shopping malls, spas, and international restaurants. However, Thanet noted that the city’s public image remains largely associated with its nightlife and entertainment scene.

To address this issue, Thanet organised a workshop to devise new marketing strategies aimed at promoting Pattaya’s diverse tourism offerings. Participants focused on highlighting the charms of small towns and traditional Thai life in areas such as Sri Racha, Bang Saen, and Phanat Nikhom. The goal is to showcase that Pattaya has much more to offer beyond its nightlife.

Shopping malls- sure that's going to bring them in by the millions

 

Bkk has malls too and a lot more besides, like an airport. Pattaya has a dirty beach, worse traffic than Bkk ( Bangkok has pedestrian overbriges so people can cross without having to run for their lives ) and golf. It's always been popular with golfers, but that's about it.

I'll bet they are counting on a casino to make them rich.

 

However, perhaps they can turn the disasters into tourist attractions. Bali Hi could become famous for it's lack of public toilets, the monstrous eyesore not far away could have haunted house type tours, the beach for the magical vanishing sand. The possibilities are endless.

[jippytum]

Pattaya will always be regarded as a location for sex and low quality tourists

[Mr Meeseeks]

3 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

Best pig I ever ate in my life was in Pattaya. 
suckling pig on a spit.

i can not find it in Phuket.

maybe to many Muslims?

 

There's loads of spit roasts in Pattaya. 

[Tarteso]

Pattaya Seeks to Transform Image
 

 

 

[proton]

This was being said 30 years ago when I first went there, but without the prostitution Pattaya has no real attractions. Get rid of the thousands of prostitutes, then start claiming its a family destination, until then just promote it for what it is- mostly a cheap brothel for sex tourists.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The private tourism sector in Pattaya convened a workshop yesterday to discuss strategies for repositioning the city as a comprehensive travel destination, aiming to shift its reputation beyond just a nightlife and entertainment hub

You mean lie?

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, Korat Kiwi said:

Yep, and good luck with that. 

 

Put lipstick on a pig, and it's still a pig. 

 

[mancub]

Promote "Perverse" Tourism....more of a winner !

[Burma Bill]

49 minutes ago, jippytum said:

Pattaya will always be regarded as a location for sex and low quality tourists

 

Yes indeed, also the alcofrolic tourists and ex-pats!

[Purdey]

Every 10 years this happens and no one changes it because of the money prostitution earns.

[ThaiFelix]

1 hour ago, Tarteso said:

Pattaya Seeks to Transform Image
 

 

 

With a brand new slogan:

 

"This is Pattaya:  Suck it and Sea!"

[Peabody]

They couldn't get a more recent headline photo? Hilton Central not even built yet.

 

[Jingthing]

It's happening already.

[tomazbodner]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

Participants focused on highlighting the charms of small towns and traditional Thai life in areas such as Sri Racha, Bang Saen, and Phanat Nikhom

None of which is Pattaya. That's kind of like if Thailand was promoting charms of Malaysia or Laos...

[Homburg]

A sure-fire success.  Perhaps they can use the friendly smiling faces from Soi 6 Security to spearhead their marketing campaign?

[J Branche]

It is Easy to hire a Slick Advertising company to put together a Promotion Video showing interests the

city wants to promote and market it to foreigners.

 

ALL the whining Negativity from the people on Aseannow will NOT slow tourism into Pattaya/Jomtien.

If it is Such a problem to You what happened when You went to City Hall and spoke with a City Official?

 

Chinese, Indians, Russia, Europeans, and others ALL visit, some buy Condos, some setup businesses in Pattaya/Jomtien.

 

The tourist who are coming to drink, looking for a friend for short or long time are usually visiting a certain area of Pattaya/Jomtien.

Families with kids visit another area. We all seem to coexist in Harmony.

 

It is up to the Tourist NOT US if, when, and where they Go and what Activities they enjoy.

[jacko45k]

16 hours ago, hotchilli said:

You mean lie?

So the band is back at the start of it's playlist..... 'Play it Again Sam'.....

Let us schedule some more markets selling dodgy food and plastic tat.... we can close down Beach Rd at weekends and make some real mayhem.... all the traffic can go down Sois Diana, Honey and Buakhao.....

[RobU]

My nephew has travelled to Thailand for the first time this week.  His opinion of Pattaya is that it is a sleazy place. It has a dangerous and badly maintained infrastructure. He agrees with me that no one should take their family there until they repair the footpaths, stop vendors and motorbikes encroaching on them, have many places where pedestrians can cross the road safely and remove the stupid telegraph poles in the middle of narrow footpaths which force pedestrians to step onto the road. 

[morrobay]

15 minutes ago, RobU said:

My nephew has travelled to Thailand for the first time this week.  His opinion of Pattaya is that it is a sleazy place. It has a dangerous and badly maintained infrastructure. He agrees with me that no one should take their family there until they repair the footpaths, stop vendors and motorbikes encroaching on them, have many places where pedestrians can cross the road safely and remove the stupid telegraph poles in the middle of narrow footpaths which force pedestrians to step onto the road. 

Very well said. And your nephews point of view would apply to most quality Western visitors. They ain't coming back. This is why the city is going after the "Stans" Central Asians who they figure might be oblivious/ put up with the infrastructure from Hell.

 

 

 

[Upnotover]

17 years ago they had it just right.....

[Henryford]

If it wasn't wasn't for the nightlife no one would come here. The wonderful beach road walk amonst the roadworks. The congested traffic dodging the roadworks. The lack of pavements to walk on. 5 star Pattaya !

[RobU]

34 minutes ago, morrobay said:

Very well said. And your nephews point of view would apply to most quality Western visitors. They ain't coming back. This is why the city is going after the "Stans" Central Asians who they figure might be oblivious/ put up with the infrastructure from Hell.

 

 

 

Pattaya is not pedestrian friendly. Tourists and their families from the west want to walk and gawk which is impossible in Pattaya because of the state of the footpaths and having to look down all the time. The city fathers don't have a clue

[jacko45k]

22 hours ago, morrobay said:

Very well said. And your nephews point of view would apply to most quality Western visitors. They ain't coming back. This is why the city is going after the "Stans" Central Asians who they figure might be oblivious/ put up with the infrastructure from Hell.

 

 

 

Rather than improve infrastructure, bring in less discerning tourists eh?

[morrobay]

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Rather than improve infrastructure, bring in less discerning tourists eh?

And they get the less discerning tourists from the "improvements". For example this endless sh*tshow along the beach. Instead of a nice promenade that would attract quality visitors, this glorified road/"promenade" and beach side parking has driven them off and all they can get now are mostly Thais and these low class cigarette smoking foreigners. With the downhill change in foreign tourism from demographics from quality to quantity. The tourist in 2023 spends much less than the 2019 tourist.

Edited June 1 by morrobay

[newnative]

26 minutes ago, morrobay said:

And they get the less discerning tourists from the "improvements". For example this endless sh*tshow along the beach. Instead of a nice promenade that would attract quality visitors, this glorified road/"promenade" and beach side parking has driven them off and all they can get now are mostly Thais and these low class cigarette smoking foreigners. With the downhill change in foreign tourism from demographics from quality to quantity. The tourist in 2023 spends much less than the 2019 tourist.

     Actually, if you google 'spending per tourist in Thailand' for 2019 and 2023, in 2019 it was 48,580 baht vs. 50,900 baht in 2023.  So, I think it's incorrect to say that the 2023 tourists were spending 'much less' than those of 2019.