As far as I can see the only reason Thailand tourist numbers are down is due to the absence of the Chinese, one single market. I remember the doom merchants writing off Western tourism post COVID due to increased flight prices and the poor state of their economies - how wrong they were. The European markets like Germany and the UK came back stronger than ever. Pattaya's strength is the diversity of who it attracts, perhaps now more than ever. Personally if I was contemplating a holiday to Pattaya I'd be more concerned with the increasing level of street crime and anti-social behaviour in the resort than a vested interest driven temporary border dispute hundreds of miles away.

17 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

In a very general manner I refer more to the sexpat tourist zone of Pattaya, the extreme Western flank which has taken quite a beating and is a pale shadow of its former self, for that group of desperados. And I don't intend that to be demeaning ,I just intend that to imply extreme levels of desperation after having been subjected to the "feminine" tortures of the Western world .

Not true. The P4P scene is more lively than ever, Soi Buakhao is always busy and new bar complexes are a common sight. Western tourist numbers have dropped off but the shortfall there has been replaced by those from all over Asia.

22 hours ago, bendejo said:

I would suspect the Chinese entrepreneurs who run the casinos in Sihanoukville et al are in contact with the powers that be in Bkk to buy a protection agreement.

 

 

I thought the casinos were already gone?

 

 

19 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I'm not sure Pattaya could get any worse and I say that with all seriousness. A friend of mine who does not seem to get much attention in Los Angeles comes to Pattaya once or twice a year, for a little TLC. He told me since last year the women are fatter, uglier, and older, and the prices have doubled for PFP. Of course like many other things in Thailand reason does not seem to apply, as tourism is down, visitors are down, and business is way down according to the gals that he spoke with, and yet prices are way up. Try to figure that one out. 

 

That does not bode well for its future, considering how dependent that city seems to be on that segment. 

 

I haven't been there in a very long time and I don't see the need to ever go back. I feel the same way about Phuket. 

Pattaya and Phuket are feeling relieved.

23 hours ago, newnative said:

    I'm wondering if you are really living in Pattaya.  If you are, you mustn't be getting out much.  Pattaya is booming.  Do some exploring in the Mabprachan Lake area, where I live.  Everywhere you look there is housing construction going on.  And, not just there.  Check out all the new construction around the new stadium area and that whole area and beyond of the Darkside.   Spouse and I will drive over to View Ang restaurant now and then and you can't miss all the new housing projects--not to mention the new water park.

    Lots of housing is being built and it is not sitting empty.  I have lived in 3 housing projects so far and they have all been bought out.  I am now on my 4th and it's the same, with Phase 3 going up next door.  With all 4 projects, it's been a UN of owners, with expats from lots of different countries.   

    Spouse and I are friends with one of the developers and she, alone, has built at least a dozen projects in the last few years, including one we have owned at, which is how we met her.  They have all sold out and she has at least three or four new projects under construction now or about to start.  Obviously, if the houses weren't selling she could not keep building.

   That's just single-family housing projects.  I haven't even touched on the condo construction boom, with more projects on the books for the next few years.  I'm not seeing any nails--or coffins--and I do get out much. 

 

That's a lot of typing just to essentially say there's plenty of development going on. I bet you're fun at party's.

45 minutes ago, champers said:

Not true. The P4P scene is more lively than ever, Soi Buakhao is always busy and new bar complexes are a common sight. Western tourist numbers have dropped off but the shortfall there has been replaced by those from all over Asia.

And the gals are uglier older and fatter. And that costs double what it did 18 months ago. 

4 minutes ago, Stuck in Thailand said:

 

That's a lot of typing just to essentially say there's plenty of development going on. I bet you're fun at party's.

  Some of my posts are just one word.  With some threads, such as this one, I felt a bit more description was needed, especially for those readers who don't live in Pattaya and have no idea where the 'plenty of development' is taking place, who is buying, or are they even buying--important when the thread is a city supposedly in a coffin.  On the bright side, it could have been a lot longer as I only focused on the single-family housing boom.  'Plenty of development' going on in the other segments, as well.  

20 hours ago, MisterTee said:

Au contraire.

Pattaya will thrive in the event of nearby conflict.

It was created as a sex and R&R destination by war.

Those who are old enough will remember.

Indeed it was.

Old photos show it as a little fishing village before the Vietnam War,

I first saw it in the late 1970s a few years after the GIs had left.

At that time, it was still booming but the demographics had changed dramatically. The place had a lot to offer, small as it was in those days. Also, numerous attractions close by - Bang Saen with its Monkey Mountain and many more until mass tourism and over development destroyed the lot.

No amount of border fighting will kill Pattaya. Even if a full-scale conflict did break out, it would more than likely revert to its old identity as a party town for combatants.

Sleaze-by-the Sea will never die.

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

And the gals are uglier older and fatter. And that costs double what it did 18 months ago. 

Some fat girls are very popular with some demographics. If they weren't making money they wouldn't be working there.

 

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

And the gals are uglier older and fatter. And that costs double what it did 18 months ago. 

 

Sounds like they're now charging by the kg.

 

1 hour ago, newnative said:

  Some of my posts are just one word.  With some threads, such as this one, I felt a bit more description was needed, especially for those readers who don't live in Pattaya and have no idea where the 'plenty of development' is taking place, who is buying, or are they even buying--important when the thread is a city supposedly in a coffin.  On the bright side, it could have been a lot longer as I only focused on the single-family housing boom.  'Plenty of development' going on in the other segments, as well.  

 

Fair play mate, I was only pulling your chain. I use to live on the dark side and enjoyed it, now residing in the chilly north east 🙂

Anybody else noticed that the OP does not seem to have returned to this topic - certainly hasn't commented on any replies..........

1 hour ago, bendejo said:

 

Sounds like they're now charging by the kg.

 

It almost feels that way, and by logical standards that would mean that the fit ones are way overpriced. However it's almost become a rich man's game at this point when you're talking about 5,000 and up for a good one with the bar fine from a go-go bar, and 3500 and up from a regular bar. And 2500 from a massage shop, for girls that aren't hot. 

2 hours ago, champers said:

Some fat girls are very popular with some demographics. If they weren't making money they wouldn't be working there.

 

You would think that that was correct, but I've spoken to some bar owners and some guys that run massage shops and they say they get whoever they can get works. It's getting harder and harder to find a young ones and the hot ones, so they just hire any warm body that applies. 

4 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

It almost feels that way, and by logical standards that would mean that the fit ones are way overpriced. However it's almost become a rich man's game at this point when you're talking about 5,000 and up for a good one with the bar fine from a go-go bar, and 3500 and up from a regular bar. And 2500 from a massage shop, for girls that aren't hot. 

You're paying way too much, make more effort with searching and diversify a bit. Massage shops 1000 seals the deal in Pattaya in low season (of course not always, then keep looking) 

20 hours ago, johng said:

The beer I like was quickly not available  then all beer was not available for a while..yes some sort of alcohol was always available

the "hard stuff"    yuckkkk  not quite a meth head yet    getting there.

 

Not sure what beer you drink but all the common ones were in abundance around me.  We used to laugh seeing regular deliveries to places that allegedly weren't allowed to sell the stuff.

 

 

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

You're paying way too much, make more effort with searching and diversify a bit. Massage shops 1000 seals the deal in Pattaya in low season (of course not always, then keep looking) 

Okay well that's good information, it's not me that's paying, it's a friend of mine who was just there, perhaps he wasn't trying hard enough. 

16 hours ago, CMHomeboy78 said:

Sleaze-by-the Sea will never die.

but hordes of people fantasizing about it dying won't end any time soon. 

 

11 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Okay well that's good information, it's not me that's paying, it's a friend of mine who was just there, perhaps he wasn't trying hard enough. 

 

you keep referencing the high cost of the ladies of the night.

but probably pattaya is one of the most expensive places in all of thailand along with phuket and bangkok? 

because this entire industry and the fact that it's a major tourist town probably drives up the cost of everything - restaurants, housing, maybe hotel prices are higher than most other places in thailand.

So there are all the indirect costs too to get to these women, I'm guessing.

just a guess. could be wrong. 

any mathematicians on here? 

 

19 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

you keep referencing the high cost of the ladies of the night.

but probably pattaya is one of the most expensive places in all of thailand along with phuket and bangkok? 

because this entire industry and the fact that it's a major tourist town probably drives up the cost of everything - restaurants, housing, maybe hotel prices are higher than most other places in thailand.

So there are all the indirect costs too to get to these women, I'm guessing.

just a guess. could be wrong. 

any mathematicians on here? 

 

I don't have much direct experiences as I haven't been there in ages, but I do have a couple of friends that visit regularly, and I'm told that up until a couple of years ago it was the most competitive environment in Thailand, for pay for play. That seemed to all change within the last year and even though businesses way down, and tourism is way down, the prices have essentially doubled.

 

So, unless you're the type who's willing to emulate the gold prospectors in the Klondike in the 1890s, searching for that rare nugget in an out of the way massage parlor, you are going to pay dearly. 

El 26/07/2025 a las 07:56, TroubleandGrumpy dijo:

I still know some blokes who were stuck here in 2020/21 (and one who died) and they had lots of problems and issues. This forum was full of stories about the troubles Expats had.  Good luck to you - and maybe you were very very lucky - but I dont believe you. 

 

I, in particular, had a wonderful time during the lockdown.
During 2021, I took the opportunity to explore much of Thailand: Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nan, Pattaya, etc.
I stayed in practically empty luxury hotels at budget hotel prices. I particularly remember a cabana with a private jacuzzi in a luxury hotel on a paradise beach that was actually a private beach for us because there were no other guests.
Going to seafood restaurants on the beach in Samui, being the only customer, having all the waiters at my disposal, who went out of their way for us, and eating seafood at kebab prices.
Dining on lobster thermidor in Phuket every night for what I now pay for a pizza.
The staff at any establishment genuinely appreciated you choosing them and went out of their way for you.
Cheap flights all over Thailand.
Empty picture-postcard beaches where we were the only visitors.
I remember being on Patong Beach, enjoying the beach, and there was no one on the entire beach but me and a German woman.
By far my best year in Thailand.

 

According to the Thai Tourist board Pattaya is a well known family safe resort

Known around the World the place as the place to come 

So  it must be true 👍 

1 minute ago, shackleton said:

According to the Thai Tourist board Pattaya is a well known family safe resort

Known around the World the place as the place to come 

So  it must be true 👍 

It is true, just dont take the kids into the red lights zones.

On 7/26/2025 at 3:18 AM, SAFETY FIRST said:

Don't worry my friend. 

 

Thailand's military is far superior to the little brother Cambodia.

 

Maybe Thailand's Prime Minister should do a Trump (take Canada) and take control of Cambodia, extending Isaan to Vietnam. 

 

Thailand's military superior to Cambodia 😂😅😂, Last time they went to war they were beaten by Laos. Trouble is at the first sign of conflict they take steps, great big steps in the opposite direction 😂😅😂

I can't see any way the current limited border dispute with Cambodia, by no means the first of its' kind, will have any detrimental effect on Pattaya's businesses. Peace talks already underway.

On 7/26/2025 at 12:11 PM, TroubleandGrumpy said:

I agree with the basis of your post - a full out war will result in a massive negative affect on Expats across the country. I see many posters are responding about the current situation, but if it does escalate to war, Thailand will revert to Martial Law and all things about us will be impacted.  Just like during Covid when Expats here were treated dismally and unfairly (I got out early), the situation under such a situation will not be good.

Overall, the commencement of a full-on war will push more Expats to leave and less Expats to come here for sure.  More than if in 2026 if they do impose income taxes on all Expat's global income under their new world-wide taxation system - if/when they get it commenced.  

Peace talks already underway.

26 minutes ago, Toby1947 said:

Thailand's military superior to Cambodia 😂😅😂, Last time they went to war they were beaten by Laos. Trouble is at the first sign of conflict they take steps, great big steps in the opposite direction 😂😅😂

I don't remember this. Thai troops performed well in Vietnam. Grateful for more detail if you have a moment.

On 7/26/2025 at 9:08 AM, henryford1958 said:

It might help deflate the baht.

No sign of Thais so far, is there? 

3 hours ago, Toby1947 said:

Last time they went to war they were beaten by Laos. Trouble is at the first sign of conflict they take steps, great big steps in the opposite direction

What is all this about: please give details! Who is .going where? 

On 7/26/2025 at 9:18 AM, SAFETY FIRST said:

Don't worry my friend. 

 

Thailand's military is far superior to the little brother Cambodia.

 

Maybe Thailand's Prime Minister should do a Trump (take Canada) and take control of Cambodia, extending Isaan to Vietnam. 

 

 

The world would not let that happen.

 

Also I really thik this is Thaksin and Hun Sen using the military to take peoples minds off the problems the 2 countries have.  Neither one really cares about the country they just care about power.