Pictures courtesy of Pattaya Mail

 

A controversial proposal to allow beach camping in Pattaya has stirred significant discontent among both tourists and long-term residents, with many concerned about the potential impact on the city's image and its hotel industry, already under pressure.

 

The plan suggests permitting camping on the beach for a fee, but critics are vocal about its drawbacks. A European visitor questioned the practicality and cleanliness, remarking, "Beach camping, and what toilets are the campers using?". The remark underscores fears that the beaches, already grappling with litter issues, could suffer further pollution.

 

Long-time residents share these concerns. One expat, who has called Pattaya home for over ten years, described it as "another ill-conceived scheme" that might attract an undesirable crowd, lamenting, “From one stupid idea to the next. This will end up being the worst place in the world if they go ahead with this.”

 

Local hoteliers, still reeling from lower-than-expected occupancy rates, have also expressed alarm. A wary tourist cautioned, “Don’t do it. If you allow hundreds of people to sleep and cook on the beach, there will be no quality tourists left. This is supposed to be a city for leisure, not a campsite.”

 

The critics argue that the potential problems extend beyond just lost hotel revenue. Pattaya’s beaches already suffer from scattered cigarette butts, plastic waste, and occasional disruptive night-time activities that strain current beach management efforts.

 

Adding tents, cooking fires, and unregulated campers could risk transforming Pattaya’s beaches—arguably its most valuable asset—into both an environmental and social burden. Many worry that the move could irreparably damage Pattaya’s reputation as a premium leisure destination.

 

While the idea might attract budget-conscious travellers looking for a unique experience, the fear remains that it could tarnish the city’s prestigious image and have lasting adverse effects on both tourism and the local economy in the region.

 

Local authorities now face the challenge of balancing innovative tourism ideas with the preservation of Pattaya’s allure, ensuring that any development preserves the delicate ecosystem of its famed beaches.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-09-04

 

 

They really think LB and Cocunut ladies will not pitch a tent for free ST cover?

Unbelievable. 

Of all the bad ideas they keep coming up with, this is one of the worst!

What an idiotic idea!

Agree with all those who suggest this is an idiotic idea... 

 

The objections are entirely sound: extra pollution, haphazard rubbish disposal, no proper washing facilities, nowhere for grey water, and a total lack of toilets or showers.

 

An..... 'beach camping' is hardly some radical innovation to attract tourists. It already exists in places like Sirinat National Park Campground in Phuket. I once stayed there decades ago after missing a flight – the tents were already pitched, I ate at a nearby beach restaurant, and it was… tolerable. Pleasant even, until the suffocating heat made sleep a laughable prospect.

 

And that, of course, is the fatal flaw: with abundant cheap accommodation available, choosing to camp here is entirely supererogatory – an unnecessary gesture that adds nothing but discomfort to the equation.

 

 

 

But.... as bkk6060 wryly observed, the comic inevitability is hard to ignore: these tents won’t be the domain of starry-eyed adventurers communing with nature, but rather Ice and her LB retinue, industriously dispensing brisk “beach quickies” to the ever-hurried and gloriously undiscerning monger brigade...

This  is the most  insane idea. In Pattaya one can get a room for 600 baht/night. If a tourist cannot afford 600/baht per night, he should not be coming to Pattaya. If he wants to to do camping, he can go to Khon Kaen camp ground. 

 

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

. One expat, who has called Pattaya home 

 

Haha.... what a delusional old fool 🙄 

I thought that many, especially from India, already were!

 

 

This has to be a wind-up.......doesn't it?

10 Indians can then line up outside their tent for 4 with a short-term gogo dancer inside who has been haggled into a 10-for-1 deal and share stories afterwards inside.

Was this insane idea hatched because of the equally insane idea of further widening the beach toward Jomtien center & then wondering what to do with the useless hot sand walk to the water?

Bad idea.After few days ir will look like a refugee camp completely taken over by Indians.

They really get desperate now!Can imagine the bad smell already.
The ladyboys will steel everything they can from the tents after a short time with the Indian guys.

 

Wow.  Another way to take business away from locals...  As others have posted there are many very cheap lodging options in Pattaya.  Clogging up the beach is a horrible idea.   The tide does come in and out significantly.  Would the campers plan their encampment in line with that or all crowd up near the walkway?  So free lodging or is it loitering?

 

Backpacking and camping are fine things to do, but not in the middle of a supposed tourist area.  And even if some other area(s) are set aside, it would have to be set up for traffic and use, waste disposal and pickup, fire cooking hazards and prevention, public bathrooms or showers, usage or camping fees?  

13 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Of all the bad ideas they keep coming up with, this is one of the worst!

Yes, a mind numbingly stupid idea...... the hotels will love it!

Anyone remember the tent girls of Surabaya, along the beach front....late 90s?

The feet of men often used to stick out in a toes down position:)) Hilarious stuff......something Pattaya definitely doesn't need!

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

A controversial proposal to allow beach camping in Pattaya has stirred significant discontent among both tourists and long-term residents, with many concerned about the potential impact on the city's image and its hotel industry, already under pressure.

Perfect solution for short term accommodation.

I wonder how many quality tourists will want to book a few nights under canvas on a beach?

 

It never ceases to amaze me how Thai’s will do ANYTHING just to make a quick buck.

You can still find 600 or 700 baht rooms.  If you can't afford that then you need to work harder.

 

Just the image to present tourist pictures with Tents on the beach in the background.  You want to camp plenty of other places, Saraburi, Khao Yai, etc.  

 

I'm convinced these guys have no clue and just throw something out there to see if it works.  

The bad bit  is that its far too hot for tents on Pattaya beach

and sometimes there are very strong winds which would cause more havoc  also the much vaunted toilet facilities  have not materialised

( yes portable van at entrance to Walking street is not enough)

Tents only  make any sense in the winter months up north in the mountains.

and then there is the potential battles between ubiquitous beach umbrellas and cheap Charlies wanting to stake out some turf for their pup tents

14 hours ago, Knight Rider said:

In Pattaya one can get a room for 600 baht/night. If a tourist cannot afford 600/baht per night, he should not be coming to Pattaya.

 

Hence I've never been there.

No doubt the local hotels are behind this plan 100%   

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Pattaya’s reputation as a premium leisure destination.

Is that a joke?

 

so How do you like those buried 7/11 bags of poo?

Might make Pattaya even more attractive to cheapskate Russians and East Europeans

I think beach camping could be a great thing. Two conditions, of course: Designated areas for campers. And facilities for campers such as toilets, showers and TM30 notifications for foreign campers.

An influx of short time pop up rooms will be good

This is the absolute most ridiculous idea I've ever heard. They have no idea what they are doing here, with litter, poop and peeing everywhere.

 

Are they really this dumb?

Make Pattaya great again! 😂😂

Sure, a place with no toilets, no rubbish bins and no security: what could go wrong?