Pattaya rebranding as family-friendly destination to boost tourism

[webfact]

Pattaya’s tourism operators have put forth a proposal to the tourism minister, aiming to transform the city’s image into a family-friendly destination, distancing it from associations with sex tourism and illegal gambling.

 

The Association of Chon Buri Tourism Federation (ACTF) recently convened with Tourism Minister Sermsak Pongpanit to discuss the initiative.

 

The meeting also included insights from a workshop that engaged foreign tour agencies from five key markets: Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, Germany, South Korea, China, and India. The ACTF and the minister discussed plans to collaborate on boosting Pattaya tourism and rebranding the city.

 

Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, President of the ACTF, highlighted that Pattaya has evolved from being a nightlife hotspot to a more family-friendly city with a diverse range of activities.

 

“Pattaya has the potential to become a city of various attractions and a hub for investment as well as world-class events.”

The city offers diverse attractions such as beaches, high-standard golf courses, cultural sites, meeting facilities, and shopping malls. Its proximity to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport and U-Tapao Airport in Chon Buri, along with nearby provinces like Rayong and Bang Saen, further enhances its appeal by helping to absorb the tourist inflow.

Last month, locals and operators in Pattaya protested against the Thai media’s portrayal of their city as a “Sin City.”

 

Sex tourism

 

Thanet noted that only those who have not visited Pattaya in over two decades still hold an outdated perception of nightlife and sex tourism. Frequent visitors and foreign travel agents recognize the city’s broader range of tourism offerings.

 

Morrakot Kuldilok, President of the Eastern Chapter of the Thai Hotels Association and an executive of the federation, acknowledged that prostitution still exists. She suggested that local government officials should regulate the industry and provide welfare measures to protect sex workers.

 

Given recent reports of illegal gambling near Pattaya Soi 6, Morrakot proposed establishing a legal casino operation to address the issue in Pattaya and other areas with similar activities.

 

The ACTF also suggested that Pattaya could become Thailand’s first casino city as part of their proposal. Other areas requiring improvement include safety, cleanliness, public infrastructure, sustainability, and city zoning regulations, which need government support.

Thanet pointed out that Pattaya’s zoning regulations have not been properly updated, leading to nightlife venues being mixed with hotels and residences. This mix can make some family tourists feel unsafe, reported Bangkok Post.

 

For the upcoming high season, Thanet estimated that tourism revenue in Pattaya should recover to over 80% of the 2019 level. However, challenges remain due to Thai tourists flocking to overseas destinations and rising competition from places like Vietnam and Hainan Island in China.

 

Picture of Pattaya Walking Street courtesy of p-thailand.co.il
 

by Bob Scott
Picture courtesy of tripadvisor

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-08-05

 

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[MalcolmB]

They just need to put the whores inside and off the streets and have more discreet signage.

 

Then when dad and his sons want to sneak off on his family holiday for an hour or two the wife/mum will not get suspicious.

 

Having all the sluts outside screaming “welcome sexy man I want to f… you” is intimidating for many wives, especially the plus sized ones. It gets their guard up.

[ikke1959]

The picture says it all..... family friendly and distancing from sex tourism.....If no sex tourism in Pattaya, no tourists either

[smedly]

what ?  

[Tropicalevo]

If the beach photo really is Pattaya, then it has convinced me to stay away.

That is not what I want to see on a family friendly, beach holiday.

Apart from a fly in/fly out day-trip for a cremation, my last stay in Pattaya was 2000. Went with friends and we did not go to the beach, nor did we visit any temples.

[Jingthing]

That's nice.

I'm rebranding as a massively wealthy 21 year old movie star.

[steven100]

Please don't tarnish Pattaya's  world class pristine family friendly #1 Gold star resort reputation that it has from TAT. 

 

It is such a family perfect pristine resort  -    nothing bad ever happens and it's so safe and everyone is honest. 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 5 by steven100

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Sex tourism

 

Thanet noted that only those who have not visited Pattaya in over two decades still hold an outdated perception of nightlife and sex tourism. Frequent visitors and foreign travel agents recognize the city’s broader range of tourism offerings.

Yeah, sure.

Families just love it! 

[fondue zoo]

42 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

That's nice.

I'm rebranding as a massively wealthy 21 year old movie star.

yeah, I'm now a windswept and interesting, between independent films, director scouting locations in the tropics.

[ronster]

Is it groundhog day ? 🙄🙈

[Homburg]

Pattaya rebranding as family-friendly destination to boost tourism

 

What, AGAIN????

[LarryLEB]

HILARIOUS!!

[Zack61]

Lipstick on a pig comes to mind. 
But hey, why not give it a try and see what happens. 

[edwinchester]

It seems we've been reading about the rebranding of Pattaya as a family friendly destination for the last two decades.

[Sig]

Hasn't it always been a family friendly destination? I could have sworn that's what I've always read from official Thai tourist info....

[tgw]

this "rebranding as family destination" must be a running gag or something

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Pattaya’s tourism operators have put forth a proposal to the tourism minister, aiming to transform the city’s image into a family-friendly destination, distancing it from associations with sex tourism and illegal gambling.

Again?

[NemoH]

The good hotels in Pattaya are so expensive. Almost the Same price as a room in Hong Kong or Singapore s$250 average 6500 baht +VAT per nite. 
 

So if the hotel rates are this high, then families will just go to Okinawa, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia Penang or Langkawi or Bali..

 

Crazy hotel rates will deter families  

Edited August 5 by NemoH

[RandolphGB]

They should do something about the Soi 6 problem. 

[Coxy]

Same old story, been hearing this for over 20 years now

[khunpin]

I guess, Pattaya doesn't like the recent headlines about Thais and Arabs clashing, about corruption, about dirty sea water, about overpricing tourists and unsolved crimes then. 🤷🏼‍♂️

Should I feel guilty for posting the truth? 🤔 

[klauskunkel]

Quote

Pattaya rebranding as family-friendly

this "identifying as something else" shtick is getting out of hand

[Coxy]

Just now, Coxy said:

Same old story, been hearing this for over 20 years now

 

[Coxy]

Just now, klauskunkel said:

this "identifying as something else" shtick is getting out of hand

Yet another hub 

[bbbbooboo]

hmmm…. yes Soi  Bokhau and surrounds  is definitely family friendly, it’s so obvious i don’t know why it hasn’t been rebranded before?

[Wanderer555]

[hotchilli]

6 minutes ago, Zack61 said:

Lipstick on a pig comes to mind. 
But hey, why not give it a try and see what happens. 

Hello handsome man, you like boom boom... 

[sirineou]

How is it working?

[hellohello123]

So is this the 4th rebranding this year? Or is it this month?

[rocketboy2]

6 minutes ago, RandolphGB said:

They should do something about the Soi 6 problem. 

 

Totally agree.

get rid of all the fat birds and lower the prices.

Win, Win.