Pattaya’s Entertainment Zones and Taxi System Get a Major Makeover

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of The Pattaya News

 

Pattaya is all set for a massive makeover! The bustling Bang Lamung district has launched a bold plan to transform its entertainment zones and motorbike taxi system, aiming to keep pace with the growing tide of tourists. At a meeting led by District Chief Patcharapat Sritanyanon, industry leaders discussed these exciting developments, held at the Takian Tia Municipal Office.

 

A change has long been overdue for Pattaya's outdated zoning laws, which have been untouched for two decades. With the city rapidly expanding beyond its famed beaches and lively Walking Street, tourists are increasingly enjoying the nightlife. Unfortunately, many venues find themselves operating in a legal limbo due to these archaic restrictions, struggling to acquire official licences.

 

Currently, the official entertainment zone is a narrow slice of Central Pattaya, bound by Third Road and the Beach, North Pattaya Road, and Bali Hai Pier. The surge in unlicensed venues, especially in vibrant areas like Jomtien and Pratumnak, has sparked considerable debate. Now, district officials are actively negotiating with Chon Buri Province and the Department of Provincial Administration to potentially extend these zones, giving more venues the chance to become licensed and contribute to Pattaya’s economic growth.

 

By extending zoning laws, authorities aim to bring more venues into the legal fold. "We are moving ahead with discussions to ensure these venues can operate legally and contribute to the economy," said Patcharapat. The next meeting, poised for next week, will gather representatives from local police, Pattaya City officials, and the Nightlife Operators’ Association to assess the plan’s practicability.

 

Part of this ambitious initiative is also a complete redo of the motorbike taxi system, aligning with the broader goal of improved tourism safety. Bang Lamung oversees an impressive network of nearly 1,000 motorbike taxi stands and about 5,000 drivers. Planned changes involve updating driver registries and enforcing uniform standards, besides ushering in stricter penalties for offences like overcharging.

 

A possible revamp of driver uniforms, incorporating a local flavour with logos, driver names, and even QR codes for identification, is also on the cards.

 

Moreover, shared songthaew taxi services are slated for a boost in efficiency and tourist assurance in the city’s public transport system. While these plans are still in the initial stages, with no set timeline for rollout, they signal a commitment to elevating Pattaya’s appeal on the global tourism map.

 

The transformation of Pattaya’s entertainment zones and motorbike taxi system stands as a promising leap toward a brighter future for this tourist haven. As these plans take shape, the vibrant city is set to offer an even more thrilling experience for its visitors.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-15

 

 

[Upnotover]

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

1,000 motorbike taxi stands and about 5,000 drivers

Will they tell them to get helmets for their passengers?  Thought not.

[NE1]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

aiming to keep pace with the growing tide of tourists.

Was it yesterday I read that the tourist industry was at a real low ?

[freedomnow]

12 hours ago, Upnotover said:

Will they tell them to get helmets for their passengers?  Thought not.

Sidecars would be a good idea ?...maybe not TiT....

[Upnotover]

25 minutes ago, freedomnow said:

Sidecars would be a good idea ?...maybe not TiT....

Works ok in the Philippines, could be a plan.

[Jim Blue]

Are we phasing out or expanding ? 

Confused .

[blaze master]

12 hours ago, NE1 said:

Was it yesterday I read that the tourist industry was at a real low ?

 

Yes but the day before that I read it was surging. 

[jacko45k]

9 minutes ago, Jim Blue said:

Are we phasing out or expanding ? 

Confused .

I got an impression of expanding. That nice quiet area condo or house, is now in a designated entertainment zone, Neon flashing lights outside your balcony and 4am closures coming your way!

[freedomnow]

1 hour ago, blaze master said:

 

Yes but the day before that I read it was surging. 

Low & surging - but then they changed their mind again.......TiT.

[freedomnow]

1 hour ago, Upnotover said:

Works ok in the Philippines, could be a plan.

Right enough, they have a name for it already here...a tuktuk !

[Pouatchee]

14 hours ago, webfact said:

aiming to keep pace with the growing tide of tourists.

 

quite confused... arent they crying their eyes out in thailand saying there are no tourists coming?

 

[JAG]

Nice to see half a dozen coppers catching some Aircon before another hard day pounding the beat ensuring law and order prevails!

 

All para trained too - impressive!

[mikebell]

Meanwhile the meterless taximeters continue to flout the law of the land with the BIB's blessing.

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, webfact said:

Unfortunately, many venues find themselves operating in a legal limbo due to these archaic restrictions, struggling to acquire official licences.

But I'm sure the owners and RTP have been able to negotiate these issues with a mutual happy ending.

[CanadaSam]

2 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Sidecars would be a good idea ?...maybe not TiT....

 

Would render them useless, as the main reason for getting on a bike is moving faster than cars, through narrow spaces between vehicles.

 

15 hours ago, webfact said:

shared songthaew taxi services are slated for a boost in efficiency and tourist assurance in the city’s public transport system.

 

Oh for the love of God, make them coloured according to routes, and maybe even use a modicum of intelligence to put a basic map on their sides showing route!

[jacko45k]

30 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

 

quite confused... arent they crying their eyes out in thailand saying there are no tourists coming?

 

It is confusing, they blame the lack of tourists on the  fact of there being too many for the infrastructure.

[dddave]

15 hours ago, Upnotover said:

Will they tell them to get helmets for their passengers?  Thought not.

Would you really want to put on a helmet somebody else has worn 5 minutes prior?  Head lice are common in Thailand along with a long list of contagious skin conditions.  Unless drivers would also be required to keep a box of sterile paper beanies to wear under the helmet it would be a no go for me.

[jacko45k]

2 minutes ago, dddave said:

Would you really want to put on a helmet somebody else has worn 5 minutes prior?  Head lice are common in Thailand along with a long list of contagious skin conditions.  Unless drivers would also be required to keep a box of sterile paper beanies to wear under the helmet it would be a no go for me.

We came up with a solution several days ago, that those using M/C taxis carry, or permanently wear, a shower cap!

[Mentors65]

means more noise coming 

[DezLez]

35 minutes ago, dddave said:

Would you really want to put on a helmet somebody else has worn 5 minutes prior?  Head lice are common in Thailand along with a long list of contagious skin conditions.  Unless drivers would also be required to keep a box of sterile paper beanies to wear under the helmet it would be a no go for me.

I would rather have head lice than a  non functioning head.

[isaanistical]

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

Meanwhile the meterless taximeters continue to flout the law of the land with the BIB's blessing.

In Bangkok?  (BIB)

[kingstonkid]

One of the first things they should do is clean up Walking Street.  It may have lights at night, but during the day, it is a disaster.  Also, the number of closed businesses is something that affects the look 

 

As to other areas yeah there needs to be changes overall they are at least attempting to make things better.

 

My suggestion would be to build your entertainment complex where the abandoned condo building is.  Heck, they might even be able to incorporate it into the complex

 

 

[sambum]

"............ushering in stricter penalties for offences like overcharging."

 

🤣

[Patong2021]

Or they could have enforced the zoning bylaws and closed down the  fire traps and rip off joints.

[kinyara]

2 hours ago, mikebell said:

Meanwhile the meterless taximeters continue to flout the law of the land with the BIB's blessing.

 

Why would you even contemplate using one when you have the pre-determined pricing model of Grab and Bolt at your fingertips 

 

Just another irrelevant whinge from a perennial moaner. Is this the nearest thread you can find to work in your daily policing whine ?

[Guderian]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

A change has long been overdue for Pattaya's outdated zoning laws, which have been untouched for two decades. With the city rapidly expanding beyond its famed beaches and lively Walking Street, tourists are increasingly enjoying the nightlife. Unfortunately, many venues find themselves operating in a legal limbo due to these archaic restrictions, struggling to acquire official licences.

 

So the base plan is to legalise a bunch of illegal businesses and allow more noisy bars and clubs to open in areas which used to be zoned as residential.  

The Thais living here may as well save themselves some money and replace the City Council by a collection of rubber plants, they'd be much cheaper and wouldn't be any worse at the job, lol. 

[eastlight]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of The Pattaya News

 

Pattaya is all set for a massive makeover! The bustling Bang Lamung district has launched a bold plan to transform its entertainment zones and motorbike taxi system, aiming to keep pace with the growing tide of tourists. At a meeting led by District Chief Patcharapat Sritanyanon, industry leaders discussed these exciting developments, held at the Takian Tia Municipal Office.

 

A change has long been overdue for Pattaya's outdated zoning laws, which have been untouched for two decades. With the city rapidly expanding beyond its famed beaches and lively Walking Street, tourists are increasingly enjoying the nightlife. Unfortunately, many venues find themselves operating in a legal limbo due to these archaic restrictions, struggling to acquire official licences.

 

Currently, the official entertainment zone is a narrow slice of Central Pattaya, bound by Third Road and the Beach, North Pattaya Road, and Bali Hai Pier. The surge in unlicensed venues, especially in vibrant areas like Jomtien and Pratumnak, has sparked considerable debate. Now, district officials are actively negotiating with Chon Buri Province and the Department of Provincial Administration to potentially extend these zones, giving more venues the chance to become licensed and contribute to Pattaya’s economic growth.

 

By extending zoning laws, authorities aim to bring more venues into the legal fold. "We are moving ahead with discussions to ensure these venues can operate legally and contribute to the economy," said Patcharapat. The next meeting, poised for next week, will gather representatives from local police, Pattaya City officials, and the Nightlife Operators’ Association to assess the plan’s practicability.

 

Part of this ambitious initiative is also a complete redo of the motorbike taxi system, aligning with the broader goal of improved tourism safety. Bang Lamung oversees an impressive network of nearly 1,000 motorbike taxi stands and about 5,000 drivers. Planned changes involve updating driver registries and enforcing uniform standards, besides ushering in stricter penalties for offences like overcharging.

 

A possible revamp of driver uniforms, incorporating a local flavour with logos, driver names, and even QR codes for identification, is also on the cards.

 

Moreover, shared songthaew taxi services are slated for a boost in efficiency and tourist assurance in the city’s public transport system. While these plans are still in the initial stages, with no set timeline for rollout, they signal a commitment to elevating Pattaya’s appeal on the global tourism map.

 

The transformation of Pattaya’s entertainment zones and motorbike taxi system stands as a promising leap toward a brighter future for this tourist haven. As these plans take shape, the vibrant city is set to offer an even more thrilling experience for its visitors.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-15

 

 

The growing tide of tourists? I read that the tourist numbers have been hit hard.

[petedk]

1 hour ago, Guderian said:

 

So the base plan is to legalise a bunch of illegal businesses and allow more noisy bars and clubs to open in areas which used to be zoned as residential.  

The Thais living here may as well save themselves some money and replace the City Council by a collection of rubber plants, they'd be much cheaper and wouldn't be any worse at the job, lol. 

 

Well said!  We live in the middle of a residential zone, but 3 neighbouring houses have been turned into nightclubs open until 5 or 6 am. A couple of others are also being converted and I believe that in a couple of years we will be living in the middle of an entertainment zone.

[PETERTHEEATER]

The officer on the far right (OP image) is overwhelmed by this ' ....exciting new development'

[newnative]

    Very bad idea to expand the entertainment zone.   And no, changing the uniforms is not a 'major makeover' for public transportation any way you look at it.   The usual teeny tiny thinking from city hall, rather than the bold ideas that are needed to work on the traffic mess.  Where are the epanded roads, the added traffic lanes, the intersection overpasses, the public parking garages, the expanded public transportation, etc., etc?