I have made this point so many times on these forums including Hua Hin, I constantly get attacked by Expats claimimg that places like Hua Hin and Pattaya are amazing places to visit, retire etc These resorsts arent stuck in the 90's its more like the Vietnam war - I have lived and worked in Thailand for 6 years and I have never taken any family or friends to Pattaya or Hua Hin because I find the bars and restauarants so dated and the hotels antiquated given the price. Most of the bars consist of a counter lined with girls in 200bhat dresses shouting at passers by, lots of screens showing sports, a pool table and a couple of old fat ferangs in vests thinking they are living the dream - fact is if they were all packed this would be one thing but they are all empty. In Pattaya if you want a neutral bar and a view you have to go to The Hilton....on top of this the screeching, cackilng ladyboys, the hevay smell of weed, the beach lined with freelancers, gangs of indian men and middle eastern men learing at any western woman - how is this condusive to families, couples, high end tourists etc - My kids are 20 and 26 and are pretty down to earth but Hua Hin and Pattaya would have nothing to offer them - indeed I would be scared for my daughter in these places

2 minutes ago, Kandinski said:

Not all tourists are alcoholics and Ill guess most non-alcoholic e.g. Arab tourist spends a tad more than most beer drinkers

 

What does alcoholics have to do with any of this.

Thais don't spend money unless they absolutely have to - just look at the buses in Bangkok that are limping along from the 1970s.

16 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

What does alcoholics have to do with any of this.

If you cant live without alcohol for a couple of hours you are per definition 

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

A close friend of mine who visits Pattaya annually told me that on his recent visit prices had doubled from the previous year, when it comes to pay for play, and everything was overpriced. In addition to that even more disappointing was the fact that the women were fatter and uglier and it was increasingly more difficult to find attractive young women at a price that made any sense at all. 

 

It seems like in general Go-Go bars, and bars are having a harder time attracting good looking younger women than ever before, as they have too many online options to make really good money. 

 

This seems to apply especially to Phuket, Ko Samui and Pattaya. 

 

 

Jesus wept.

 

Eric.

26 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Oh I don’t know. There are a lot more cars and buildings in Phuket. It’s not change for the better, but it IS change.

But not the real attractions that pull in quality tourists.

A great way to illustrate change is compare a photo of Walking Street today with the 'file photo' at the top of the article.

15 hours ago, dinsdale said:

There is absolutelty no reason now or before for the 2-5 pm law that holds any rational scrutiny. As for this latest round of insanity who are the faces behind it?  Who's pushing this insanity? People are not allowed to have even a sip of alcohol from one second past 2 pm til five pm and one second after midnight til 11:00 am. This is a policy thought up by absolute imbeciles.

Having DTs?

Sounds almost hysterical.

18 minutes ago, Kandinski said:

If you cant live without alcohol for a couple of hours you are per definition 

 

I haven't been drunk in 20 years.

4 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

I haven't been drunk in 20 years.

Good choice but (one of) the definition of an alcoholic has changed. Living here I couldn't care less how Thailand administrates their alcohol law but always amusing to read the (predictable) replies when the matter is discussed 

Flame post removed 

 

@Stressed Eric

12 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

Approximately 3 decades of servicing tens of thousands of men from around the globe.

You have been one busy fellow.

48 minutes ago, SportRider said:

A great way to illustrate change is compare a photo of Walking Street today with the 'file photo' at the top of the article.

I miss the signs.

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

A close friend of mine who visits Pattaya annually told me that on his recent visit prices had doubled from the previous year, when it comes to pay for play, and everything was overpriced. In addition to that even more disappointing was the fact that the women were fatter and uglier and it was increasingly more difficult to find attractive young women at a price that made any sense at all. 

 

It seems like in general Go-Go bars, and bars are having a harder time attracting good looking younger women than ever before, as they have too many online options to make really good money. 

 

This seems to apply especially to Phuket, Ko Samui and Pattaya. 

 

 

since you are a leftist you should be extremely happy about this news.  Woman are finding others options other then working in the bars.

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

 

Where all the young one gone?

long time passing,

where have the fresh one gone? long time ago,

Where have all the pretty one gone?
Young men have picked them, every one
Oh, when will they ever come back?
Oh, when will they ever come back?

Gone for husbands, every one...

(Paraphrasing Peter Paul and Mary words)

Kingston Trio

1 hour ago, shdmn said:

Who writes this garbage?

Exactly what I was thinking. The author of this article  comes across as a sanctimonious know-it-all, never done anything <deleted>. Just my opinion.

Licensed business should not have any problems – according to what various news sites write – it's worse for unlicensed places, but it probably was bad for that kind of business already...

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

A close friend of mine who visits Pattaya annually told me that on his recent visit prices had doubled from the previous year, when it comes to pay for play, and everything was overpriced. In addition to that even more disappointing was the fact that the women were fatter and uglier and it was increasingly more difficult to find attractive young women at a price that made any sense at all. 

 

It seems like in general Go-Go bars, and bars are having a harder time attracting good looking younger women than ever before, as they have too many online options to make really good money. 

 

This seems to apply especially to Phuket, Ko Samui and Pattaya. 

 

 

They are better fed than when I first got here in the 1980s.  🐷🐷🐴🐷🐷🐷

3 minutes ago, connda said:

They are better fed than when I first got here in the 1980s.  🐷🐷🐴🐷🐷🐷

And it's probably not likely that they eat more, they just simply eat much lower quality food, much more processed food, with a very nasty oils, and a 7-11 diet to boot. 

21 minutes ago, Mike_Hunt said:

since you are a leftist you should be extremely happy about this news.  Woman are finding others options other then working in the bars.

If it's okay for you to call me a leftist, which is a very nasty way you have of referring to a Democrat, is it okay for me to call you a fascist or a right-wing extremist, or what would be the equivalent opposite term to a leftist in your hateful playbook? 

2 hours ago, Fact said:

I feel so bad for the fat bald loser mongers. 

Please don’t,I have never been happier.

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

If it's okay for you to call me a leftist, which is a very nasty way you have of referring to a Democrat, is it okay for me to call you a fascist or a right-wing extremist, or what would be the equivalent opposite term to a leftist in your hateful playbook? 

Rightist ,obviously.

1 hour ago, Stressed Eric said:

Jesus wept.

 

Eric.

 

13 minutes ago, connda said:

They are better fed than when I first got here in the 1980s.  🐷🐷🐴🐷🐷🐷

Terrible post all thats wrong with Pattaya

12 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

If it's okay for you to call me a leftist, which is a very nasty way you have of referring to a Democrat, is it okay for me to call you a fascist or a right-wing extremist, or what would be the equivalent opposite term to a leftist in your hateful playbook? 

Did I trigger you? Good

2 hours ago, Fact said:

Papaya is very outdated.  The powers to be need tear down all the bars and shops on beach road and modernize the beach front.  

Totally agree and my opinion for years . Pattaya is a <deleted> hole . Lack of public conveniences , dangerous broken  pavements , electric cables hanging down below head height , concrete posts in the middle of pavements , no consideration for wheelchairs / push chairs , street vendors occupying the pavements etc etc . It could be so much better e.g. create a promenade on Beach road with seating . Lay new wider , hazard free well lit pavements . Provide hygienic attended public toilets and charge a fee to use them . But the powers that be show zero concern . There are better places to holiday in Thailand and maybe Vietnam is worth a visit ?

2 hours ago, Vlada Floric said:

Instead of fixating on booze, women and drugs, these tourists would do well to take a leaf out of the locals book. Stop letting substance abuse dictate your holidays. There are many many wonderful temples that they could practice "merit making" instead of constantly chasing sins! Temperance, moderation, good will to all men, enjoy the spiritual side of Thailand at least until 7.11 starts flogging booze at 5pm.

I had fun when I was younger.  Been there, done that.  It was great.  But as you age?  I'm pretty much a homebody now, seldom drink, and quite happy living life in the slow lane.  I use to join my American friends when they'd come and troll the bars every year, but those days are under the bridge as well.
It was fun, but, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

But not the real attractions that pull in quality tourists.

Not much change to core attractions as you say.

For Phuket the only noteworthy addition is the water park.

Then the problems, uncontrolled building, water shortages, poor waste management, crippling traffic, limited public transport, greedy landlords pushing up prices, erratic and xenophobic policing, lack of investment and action into infrastructure, etc. etc.

 

Booze has been here since the year dot but legalised weed has attracted poor quality visitors from all nations, the stench has made the place far less an attractive option to others that find this extremely distasteful. Families are staying away or holing-up in resorts.

Weedies only spend on the next/ permanent high. 

 

To blame any of this on alcohol is madness. If the current revised laws stick it'll nail down the coffin lid.

Booze should be sellable/servible from 10:00 to 02:00 at all licensed outlets in entertainment zones. If enclosed venues have longer hours e.g. night clubs then they can serve longer.

Keep and clarify/simplify the zoning, this is sanity for residential areas.

.....".....often remain stuck in the aesthetics and layouts of the 1990s, offering decor that fails to impress international visitors.....".. Very aptly put! Unfortunately, Thailand's tourism industry seems to have missed the boat in the 20th century and is only noticeable for its double-pricing schemes, which tire tourists and expats. Making money without effort is the top priority! Instead, a cheap clientele with questionable manners is attracted, which has undeniable consequences for the retention of expats and valuable tourists😨

2 hours ago, Kandinski said:

If you cant live without alcohol for a couple of hours you are per definition 

Sad to read that you think everybody who drinks a glass of alcohol is an alcoholic