Is Pattaya Dead Right Now?

[MayBeLater]

I have been 5 times in Pattaya since 1999. Just came back after travelling again for 5 weeks in Thailand and Laos. And each and every time I am impressed with the improvement that has been made (in Pattaya and in Thailand/Asia in general).

Everywhere in Pattaya you can see huge new hotels and condominiums being build and already build (thats done with money, not with air). Everywhere around Pattaya you see villa-parks. Everywhere you see lots and lots of new cars, not the old cars like here in North-West Europe. Everywhere in Pattaya you see loads of families and couples contrary to before when the only tourists you saw was the tattood male farang, and they are not the ones Thailand likes to see. Now everywhere you see Russians, Arabs, Chinese, Indians ,Western couples etc.. And while I or you might not like them its childish naieve to actually believe they have nothing to spent, they only don't frequent the bars as often as the tattood male farang does, they spent differently.

Neh Pattaya is doing great (as Thailand does in general, travel around and you will see the improvement everywhere), tourist numbers are up for years, the city is just changing from mainly a sex destination to a more 'normal' holiday destination. And while there might be a slowdown in tourist numbers for a year or so this does not affect the course that Pattaya has taken at all. Over the next ten years the bars will dissapear from the beach road (like most did already in the last 10 years) and second road and the sois in between (with perhaps the exception being soi 7/8). The bar scene will be more 'hidden' in Soi Buakaow etc..

MBL

[samuibeachcomber]

"maybelater"................you are seeing Pattaya through different glasses to me,but good on you!

[thaimate]

I have been 5 times in Pattaya since 1999. Just came back after travelling again for 5 weeks in Thailand and Laos. And each and every time I am impressed with the improvement that has been made (in Pattaya and in Thailand/Asia in general).

Everywhere in Pattaya you can see huge new hotels and condominiums being build and already build (thats done with money, not with air). Everywhere around Pattaya you see villa-parks. Everywhere you see lots and lots of new cars, not the old cars like here in North-West Europe. Everywhere in Pattaya you see loads of families and couples contrary to before when the only tourists you saw was the tattood male farang, and they are not the ones Thailand likes to see. Now everywhere you see Russians, Arabs, Chinese, Indians ,Western couples etc.. And while I or you might not like them its childish naieve to actually believe they have nothing to spent, they only don't frequent the bars as often as the tattood male farang does, they spent differently.

Neh Pattaya is doing great (as Thailand does in general, travel around and you will see the improvement everywhere), tourist numbers are up for years, the city is just changing from mainly a sex destination to a more 'normal' holiday destination. And while there might be a slowdown in tourist numbers for a year or so this does not affect the course that Pattaya has taken at all. Over the next ten years the bars will dissapear from the beach road (like most did already in the last 10 years) and second road and the sois in between (with perhaps the exception being soi 7/8). The bar scene will be more 'hidden' in Soi Buakaow etc..

MBL

you are talking about Pattaya ,arnt you? just as many tattood farangs with pony tales as ever and ive lived here for years.

[tropo]

"maybelater"................you are seeing Pattaya through different glasses to me,but good on you!

You should give your glasses a good wipe or get a new pair. He states facts!

1. "Everywhere in Pattaya you can see huge new hotels and condominiums being build and already build (thats done with money, not with air). "TRUE

2. "Everywhere you see lots and lots of new cars, not the old cars." TRUE

3. "Now everywhere you see Russians, Arabs, Chinese, Indians ,Western couples etc.. " TRUE

4. "And while I or you might not like them its childish naieve to actually believe they have nothing to spent (sic) they only don't frequent the bars as often as the tattood male farang does, they spent differently." TRUE

5. "the city is just changing from mainly a sex destination to a more 'normal' holiday destination." TRUE

6. "Over the next ten years the bars will dissapear from the beach road (like most did already in the last 10 years)" TRUE

Maybelater summed it up well.

[bkkjames]

"maybelater"................you are seeing Pattaya through different glasses to me,but good on you!

You should give your glasses a good wipe or get a new pair. He states facts!

1. "Everywhere in Pattaya you can see huge new hotels and condominiums being build and already build (thats done with money, not with air). "TRUE

2. "Everywhere you see lots and lots of new cars, not the old cars." TRUE

3. "Now everywhere you see Russians, Arabs, Chinese, Indians ,Western couples etc.. " TRUE

4. "And while I or you might not like them its childish naieve to actually believe they have nothing to spent (sic) they only don't frequent the bars as often as the tattood male farang does, they spent differently." TRUE

5. "the city is just changing from mainly a sex destination to a more 'normal' holiday destination." TRUE

6. "Over the next ten years the bars will dissapear from the beach road (like most did already in the last 10 years)" TRUE

Maybelater summed it up well.

Don't get rid of the bars, there will be nothing to distract tourists from the garbage in the water and on the so-called beach.

[Kerryd]

Don't get rid of the bars, there will be nothing to distract tourists from the garbage in the water and on the so-called beach.

There's a beach ?

(maybe I should get out more during the daylight hours)

[syd barrett]

I spent the whole day in Pattaya today, starting at soi 6 then 7, 8, Post Office etc. etc. and I have never seen Pattaya so quiet and dead considering that it is November 17th.

Now I don't care really, it is just a fact. But I reckon 2009/2010 will be really different: ie worse (more-dead). Many people have already booked their 4 weeks of fun in Pattaya for Christmas and New Year 2008, but unemployment/credit-crunch/Thai Baht will all play a part. Then perhaps after the global recession it will pick up again.

[smokeyjoe2008]

I have been 5 times in Pattaya since 1999. Just came back after travelling again for 5 weeks in Thailand and Laos. And each and every time I am impressed with the improvement that has been made (in Pattaya and in Thailand/Asia in general).

Everywhere in Pattaya you can see huge new hotels and condominiums being build and already build (thats done with money, not with air). Everywhere around Pattaya you see villa-parks. Everywhere you see lots and lots of new cars, not the old cars like here in North-West Europe. Everywhere in Pattaya you see loads of families and couples contrary to before when the only tourists you saw was the tattood male farang, and they are not the ones Thailand likes to see. Now everywhere you see Russians, Arabs, Chinese, Indians ,Western couples etc.. And while I or you might not like them its childish naieve to actually believe they have nothing to spent, they only don't frequent the bars as often as the tattood male farang does, they spent differently.

Neh Pattaya is doing great (as Thailand does in general, travel around and you will see the improvement everywhere), tourist numbers are up for years, the city is just changing from mainly a sex destination to a more 'normal' holiday destination. And while there might be a slowdown in tourist numbers for a year or so this does not affect the course that Pattaya has taken at all. Over the next ten years the bars will dissapear from the beach road (like most did already in the last 10 years) and second road and the sois in between (with perhaps the exception being soi 7/8). The bar scene will be more 'hidden' in Soi Buakaow etc..

MBL

you are talking about Pattaya ,arnt you? just as many tattood farangs with pony tales as ever and ive lived here for years.

well i would just like to say im english,tattooed and have short hair not quite a skinhead!!i like a drink like the next man.but dont go out fighting and offending people.some of us do have manners and know how to behave in a way in which does not upset people.but when i see my fellow countrymen climbing on bars and spraying drinks in there underware.i can see why we have a bad name all around they world.

[thaibeachlovers]

http://' target="_blank">High season tourists down by 50%

Ariyawat Nuamsawat

Tourist arrivals in Pattaya have decreased by more than 50% in this high season from the number this time last year and the outlook is not encouraging, according to the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association.

Asian tourists especially are staying away in droves fearing political violence. Visitors from elsewhere are also being kept away by the high price of fuel sending up air travel costs.

Jamroon Wisawachaipan, chairman of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, told a meeting of business and tourism leaders at the Green Park Resort, organized by his association on October 30, that much needs to be done to remedy the situation which may even become worse next year.

Thanet Supornsaharungsi, chief advisor of the association, reported that hotel reservations and occupancy were down by 50-70%, compared to the same time last year when all hotels were full for the high season.

Arrivals from the European and Russian markets have also dropped by 50% and “there is no positive sign that the situation will get better,” he said.

Thanet said that the total number of tourists is expected to remain at just 50-60% level this season compared to last year, if the political crisis remains and there is not “serious policy to deal with the problem.”

The government needs to provide significant support because tourism cannot depend only on the entrepreneurs who are doing all they can to promote business.

The most important solution is to find a way for the government to reach a compromise with the opposition People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) regarding the political crisis. And, as soon as possible.

Airlines, especially Thai Air International, need to decrease the price of tickets which were doubled following oil price increases. But the fares have now not followed the fuel price down, Thanet said.

Rattanachai Sutidechanai, Pattaya City councilor, on behalf of the chief commissioner of Pattaya Tourism and Sports, said the city is helping to promote many tourism activities, such as the Loy Krathong Festival, Eastern Cow Breed Exhibition, International Balloon Festival, windsurfing and LPGA golf tournaments, the countdown to New Year’s Eve and the 2008 Ride for Peace.

Patchararin Sawettarat, assistant director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Region 3 (Pattaya), said TAT is working hard to promote Pattaya tourism to both the domestic and international markets with new campaigns.

Pattaya City has allocated 6,000,000 baht, central TAT 3,000,000 baht and the Chonburi Provincial Administration has also given some money for an international promotion campaign and advertisements, which has a total budget of 18.5 million baht, Patchararin said.

TAT will travel on a promotional tour to Germany, Vietnam, Dubai, India, and Russia, and advertisements are being made in Japan, Australia, and Russia to create a positive image of Thailand in those countries.

The assistant director then gave details of a host of upcoming events in the next year in Thailand which would attract tourists.

The domestic market is allocated 6,000,000 baht for advertisements in magazines, print ads, radio spots and websites, the main targets being young people and family groups.

Patchararin said the “Traveling in Thailand to Refresh the Economy” campaign was expected to expand the domestic travel market by 5%, aiming for 87 million tourists who will generate 3.88 trillion baht.

From the latest Pattaya Mail.

I certainly agree that tourist numbers are way down. Looking around now, there seem to be less farangs than in July!

I do disagree on the reasons given for farang stay aways though. IMO it's more to do with the overvalued baht. Sterling down to 50, while even my cheap hotel has increased from 500 a night to 700. If I continue to get such a low exchange rate, I'll be forced to consider other destinations, even though I'd rather not.

Back in the mid 90's Sterling was 45, but same hotel cost 300, and long time was 500!

Certainly, IMO, the decision of the "powers that be" to try and upmarket Pattaya has been shown to be wrong. The first farangs in a financial crisis to decide not to come to Pattaya are the middle class families that have been targetted. I bet the corporations that have been, and are rebuilding Pattaya into some expensive tourist ghetto of malls and expensive resorts are now regretting their decision. I certainly can't see the new Central Mall breaking even any year soon.

I believe that Pattaya's dedicated farang supporters are as always the guys here for the girls, boys, ladyboys and a good time, but we have been made to feel less and less welcome as City Hall aims for the bigger spending package tourist.

The only question is will Pattaya survive as it has been been, or will it become another Hua Hin s*** hole, with a lot of big buildings and a few expensive bars.

I've been back only one day, so my observation as to individual bar areas is obviously limited, but while the usual popular bars are still well frequented, any bars away from the immediate street frontage are in serious doo doo. A large bar area near the Avenue Mall is desolate at the back with empty ( apart from the staff ) and closed bars, which is unusual for that bar complex, and I'm presuming it's much the same elsewhere. It could be that the large increase in bar numbers over the past few years is now becoming evident, or it may be more serious. Only time will tell how many survive. Could be a good thing in the long run if there are less bars, as they are certainly struggling to survive with so many competing at present, but I've been saying that for years.

[Hairy]

The beach is right next to the Pattaya Disneyland.

[Hairy]

page 11 seem to be broken??

[Hairy]

gleep?

[Hairy]

One more try to un-break this topic's last page.

[Hairy]

yet another attempt to unf*ck the topic.

[britmaveric]

Twas pretty dead in Nov - reminded me of summer time.