Is Pattaya Dead Right Now?

[Ulysses G.]

It does seem quite quiet around but a mate of mine arrives tomorrow and reckons he had to call 4 different hotels before he could find one that would take a 3 day booking, which suggests a different story. Unless there's gonna be a lot of cancellations....

Perhaps, he tried booking on a weekend in one of the more popular hotels. I was surprised how many Thailand based tourists were around only on Saturday and Sunday.

[Crow Boy]

name='billdo2000' date='2008-10-28 20:17:12' post='2299646']

I am American, but I drink like an Australian!

So you get drunk real quick, like after 2 bottles of VB.

I've never had a VB. I always have a Fosters if I drink Aussie beer. I've heard Australians prefer V.B. - I must try it.

No one in Australia drinks Fosters - it is so bad we export it to the world in fear that we may have to drink the stuff if any remains

Try Carlton Draught - I prefer it to VB

CB

[mpdkorat]

Every time I am dreaming to go back home, I feel lucky to be here!

Ugh ! More like nightmares of having to go back home !

For me, a bad day in Pattaya beats a good day "back home" anytime !

If this is Pattaya when it's dead, I almost hope it never gets a pulse again !

I'm not picking on you, your an experienced expat. What worries me is Pattaya will lose it's pulse...

[sharecropper]

There are many Russians here. Perhaps less than last year but swamping other nationalities by number. And when you compare Russian signage around the town to even 3 years ago, I think you will get the idea that Pattaya is evolving.

I just hope the PAD problem doesn't come to Pattaya (a story yesterday about a small protest at a Pattaya temple concerns me). Then you'll have far bigger problems in Pattaya tourism.

It's interesting to see the principle of "it's not my problem" and an inability to plan and act responsibly when faced with pressure which many identify as personality defects in Thais generally, playing out on a national political stage as the government and the army all look the other way and hope the mess will sort itself out - as it gets much worse.

[Mobi]

For the first time in months I hit the down town Pattaya last night to dine and drink with some friends who had arrived for a couple of days holiday in Sin city.

My first view of the new TV Screen at the entrance to Walking Street. It's a bit bright!! In fact I could hardly look at it without blinking. But it probably isn't that out of place IMO.

Our first stop was one of those seafood restaurants on Walking Street, that offers sea views. It was more or less empty when we arrived, but by the time we left at around 9 p.m. it was nearly full - and I would guess that a majority of the customers were Russian. The food was excellent and the price not unreasonable, considering the location.

There was a fair crowd of tourists wandering along Walking Street, as we made our way up, past Nang nual, and stopped for a drink at the Rolling Stone 2 Bar. The music was excellent, and there was a lively crowd enjoying themselves.

By the time we left there were huge crowds going in either direction - no different to any time I have been there.

We then stopped at the Hot Tuna bar, which had even better live music the The Rolling Stone. (Two excellent live bands though, in both bars - very talented musicians and vocalists). Another great crowd enjoying themselves and the music was so good, that many tourists just stood outside on the road to enjoy it.

Back down Walking Street where the crowds were growing ever larger. It was clear that all the entertainment establishments were doing a very brisk trade.

Then down to Soi 7 for a couple of night caps. Plenty of lively bars and plenty of customers.

Finally down to Soi 2 opposite BIG C for more night caps, where there was more live music and plenty of customers, and onto a couple more bars, finishing in the Classroom, where business had been so good that there were hardly any girls left!!

So on the basis of a Thursday night in Pattaya, I can say the was little or no eveidence that Pattaya is dying.

However, I suspect that the more outlying locations may be suffering.

So I doubt whether Pattaya will die, but it may well contract somewhat into it's heartland until the economic and political situations improve.

[billdo2000]

name='billdo2000' date='2008-10-28 20:17:12' post='2299646']

I am American, but I drink like an Australian!

So you get drunk real quick, like after 2 bottles of VB.

I've never had a VB. I always have a Fosters if I drink Aussie beer. I've heard Australians prefer V.B. - I must try it.

No one in Australia drinks Fosters - it is so bad we export it to the world in fear that we may have to drink the stuff if any remains

Try Carlton Draught - I prefer it to VB

CB

Where can I find Carlton Draguht in Pattaya? I will definitely give it a try...

[BarryM]

A big competitor for the Tourists Dollar is now Bali ,

with that awful Balinese cuisine? I stopped going there years ago after finally having had enough of bland nasi goreng. Fried egg anybody?

mmmm give me MSG, sugar and factory farmed CP company "protein" any day

[LennyW]

I dont know what the tourists are doing "normally" but you just have to look in the bars along beach road when it rains - standing room only, where the hel_l do they all appear from??

[samuibeachcomber]

Pattaya i hope you continue to thrive............Isaan is counting on you.

[Naam]

One week in Angeles City was plenty for me - but there again I'm getting on a bit

I would say for younger, fitter specimens they would be quite happy there for 3-4 weeks.

I'm not an expert on PI, and nor would I attempt to make a comparison between PI and LOS.

All that I am saying is that for a large percentage of the tourists who come to Pattaya for 'you know what', then Angeles City is without doubt becoming a more attractive option for all the reasons I stated in my earlier post.

in may i attended a meeting with friends for a couple of days in Manila. the plan was to spend later one week or perhaps ten days in Angeles City. arrived there when it was dark, had dinner , went to a bar where a zillion young skinny girls moved to some ear deafening rap music, had a sip of a non tasting cocktail , asked a friend to pay for my drink and left for my mediocre hotel, had a shower and slept, phoned around next morning (€UR 2.84 a minute roaming charges ) for the next flight back to Swampy, got mad because i had to pay additionally through my nose for the shittiest business class seat on this planet's shittiest airline (Philippine Airlines) , took a taxi to MNL, waited for a few hours in some shitty lounge on shitty uncomfortable seats where only shitty drinks and shitty snacks were available and then took a shitty flight . the only positive thing was that one of the flight attendants had a big ass and big tits . that and a double vodka orange put me in a dozing state (phantasising what i'd do to/with her if i was twenty years younger ) till we hit the tarmac at Swampy.

[harrry]

(phantasising what i'd do to/with her if i was twenty years younger ) till we hit the tarmac at Swampy.

But if you were twenty years younger would SHE want to do anything with you?

[LennyW]

Are we to understand that you did not like Manila then Naam??

[Humphrey Bear]

One week in Angeles City was plenty for me - but there again I'm getting on a bit

I would say for younger, fitter specimens they would be quite happy there for 3-4 weeks.

I'm not an expert on PI, and nor would I attempt to make a comparison between PI and LOS.

All that I am saying is that for a large percentage of the tourists who come to Pattaya for 'you know what', then Angeles City is without doubt becoming a more attractive option for all the reasons I stated in my earlier post.

in may i attended a meeting with friends for a couple of days in Manila. the plan was to spend later one week or perhaps ten days in Angeles City. arrived there when it was dark, had dinner, went to a bar where a zillion young skinny girls moved to some ear deafening rap music, had a sip of a non tasting cocktail, asked a friend to pay for my drink and left for my mediocre hotel, had a shower and slept, phoned around next morning (€UR 2.84 a minute roaming charges ) for the next flight back to Swampy, got mad because i had to pay additionally through my nose for the shittiest business class seat on this planet's shittiest airline (Philippine Airlines) , took a taxi to MNL, waited for a few hours in some shitty lounge on shitty uncomfortable seats where only shitty drinks and shitty snacks were available and then took a shitty flight . the only positive thing was that one of the flight attendants had a big ass and big tits . that and a double vodka orange put me in a dozing state (phantasising what i'd do to/with her if i was twenty years younger ) till we hit the tarmac at Swampy.

Was it something you ate?

Reason for edit - missed a shit.

[billdo2000]

It does seem quite quiet around but a mate of mine arrives tomorrow and reckons he had to call 4 different hotels before he could find one that would take a 3 day booking, which suggests a different story. Unless there's gonna be a lot of cancellations....

Perhaps, he tried booking on a weekend in one of the more popular hotels. I was surprised how many Thailand based tourists were around only on Saturday and Sunday.

I was actually considering an extended holiday from early December through February in order to take care of some business in Thailand and take a much needed break from work. I further considered the "stuff" going on in BKK right now and thought I might stay in the PI for some of this holiday. I would assume that it is business as usual in Pattaya right now despite the situation in BKK.

[thaibeachlovers]

It does seem quite quiet around but a mate of mine arrives tomorrow and reckons he had to call 4 different hotels before he could find one that would take a 3 day booking, which suggests a different story. Unless there's gonna be a lot of cancellations....

Perhaps, he tried booking on a weekend in one of the more popular hotels. I was surprised how many Thailand based tourists were around only on Saturday and Sunday.

when I called my favourite ( cheap ) hotel from the UK, I was told "full", so a bit surprised when I checked on arrival, just in case, to find several empty rooms. Even so, charging "high season" rates.

Even the AP Hotel had a vacancy sign out. Never saw that before.

[hansnl]

A big competitor for the Tourists Dollar is now Bali , now that the Bombings are a fading memory (6years on the 12th) there are , I believe now 20,000 more rooms available for Tourists than last year & I know my wife & a few of her friends were lucky to get a room this & next week & the prices are far , far cheaper than Pattaya & from Australia the flights are much shorter.

It will be interesting to see this year if there is a major downturn in numbers.

Friend of mine is running a travel organisation specialised in South-East Asia, operating in the Benelux and west Germany

Bookings in general are down at least 10%

Booking to Thailand are down 15-25%.

In general cheaper holidays are selling well.

The number and class of hotel rooms bought in by various tourist outfits for customers in Thailand is also down.

There will be glut of hotel rooms in Bangkok and the tourist destinations, while the number of tourists seems to come down.

Spending per head is down at least 12% on the sold packages.

It is questionable if tourism from other destinations, including Asia, will pick up enough to compensate for the loss from Europe, and probably from the US.

Also questionable if the spending per head in Thailand will stay on the same level if tourists from Asia can pick up the lost numbers from Eur & US.

[soundman]

I have removed two posts for personal attacks. No more please.

[billdo2000]

A big competitor for the Tourists Dollar is now Bali , now that the Bombings are a fading memory (6years on the 12th) there are , I believe now 20,000 more rooms available for Tourists than last year & I know my wife & a few of her friends were lucky to get a room this & next week & the prices are far , far cheaper than Pattaya & from Australia the flights are much shorter.

It will be interesting to see this year if there is a major downturn in numbers.

Friend of mine is running a travel organisation specialised in South-East Asia, operating in the Benelux and west Germany

Bookings in general are down at least 10%

Booking to Thailand are down 15-25%.

In general cheaper holidays are selling well.

The number and class of hotel rooms bought in by various tourist outfits for customers in Thailand is also down.

There will be glut of hotel rooms in Bangkok and the tourist destinations, while the number of tourists seems to come down.

Spending per head is down at least 12% on the sold packages.

It is questionable if tourism from other destinations, including Asia, will pick up enough to compensate for the loss from Europe, and probably from the US.

Also questionable if the spending per head in Thailand will stay on the same level if tourists from Asia can pick up the lost numbers from Eur & US.

I checked on flights from Los Angeles to BKK on Thai. The fares are pretty cheap and it's the direct flight (which was extended, I guess). The other airlines were quite a bit more expensive and had the layover in Tokyo and/or Taipai.

[hansnl]

Pattaya has been declining over the last 10 years with tourist numbers.I've lived here now for 12 years and remember the late 90's being very busy in high season and having a steady low season.It started to tail off once the restrictions started.Early bar closing,shows in bars,election days,buddha days etc etc.Iam married with kids so dont much go round the bars but party city has definately had its day and I agree the only way to get it back is turn back the clocks.The amount of days per year now that bars have to shut down is plain ridiculous,its getting to the stage where once a week bars are shut.People coming on a two week holiday don't want that.Pattaya got its name as fun town so bring it back if you want the tourists.For me I couldn't care,Iam settled so not bothered either way.

EPG.

I would have to strongly disagree with this post, I have lived in Pattaya about 12 years, previous to which I lived in Bangkok, I moved here as it was quite and small, its grown by a huge amount in that time, 12 years ago you could park on both Soi 6 and soon to be named walking street, trying to find a rental property was a nightmare, there were ony ? x amount of hotel rooms, that number must have at least tripled? The first Supermarket had yet to open etc - Its image may change but it will remain a big city regardless.

I do have to agree though - it would be nice if the tourists stayed away.

<snip>

You seem to forget the number of people depending on income from Pattaya?

Thousands of families from Isan depend on it!

[ray23]

Does it effect Pattaya remember these are figures for all tourist from all countries, so maybe, maybe not. Haven't been there in a long time need to pull an escape one of these days

"ECONOMY

Slowdown signals strong in September

POST REPORTERS

The Thai economy showed signs of a clear slowdown in September, with exports and manufacturing production both down from the previous month, according to data released by the Bank of Thailand yesterday.

Amara Sriphayak, a senior director for the central bank's domestic economy department, said the US and global economic slowdown had a clear impact on Thailand, with third-quarter export figures clearly down from the first half.

Inbound tourists totalled just 900,000 in September, a 16.5% decline from the year before, as foreigners cancelled trips as headlines centred on the seizure of Government House by the People's Alliance for Democracy and the temporary closure of provincial airports. "

[smokeyjoe2008]

its not just pattaya thats quiet at the momment.have been visiting friends in the uk before i head back to pattaya at the end of november.have been to london,leeds,birmingham,all very quiet.no queues very empty bars and clubs,resurants nearly empty.hundreads of taxis parked up that would normaly be ferrying people around.nobodys got the money anymore.or they are worried about joining the thousands that are getting made redundant every week here in the uk.the whole world is going quiet not just pattaya.but as i said in another post.there dont seem to be many flights out of the uk at the moment to thailand.so mabe pattaya may see the return of the tourist soon

[TomBrown]

Yesterday afternoon the Pattaya Bus Station seemed quite full, more or less standing room only while waiting for the next bus. Mainly Thais though.

[ray23]

Maybe it's working:

Hotel Industry to Rely on Thais as Foreign Tourists Decrease

UPDATE : 3 November 2008

The hotel and lodging business is turning to Thai consumers to boost sales at the end of the year as foreign tourists have decreased by 20 to 50 percent due to the effects of the world financial crisis and concerns about the political situation in Thailand.

Thai tourists have become the main target for hotel business owners as the impact from the world economic crisis and concerns about the domestic political situation have caused room reservations by foreigners to decrease by 20 to 50 percent.

Tempong Yoowittaya, Managing Director of Lima Coco Resort Group, said large hotels are reporting that foreign tourists have cancelled reservations by around 30 to 50 percent due to the world financial crisis.

Many hotels now have to rely on reservations from Thai customers rather than foreign tourists.

As for the Lima Coco Resort on Koh Samed, rooms are almost fully booked for the end of the year, mostly by Thai customers. During slow economic times like this, many Thai tourists find going to Koh Samed more economic than going to islands in the South as it is not far from Bangkok and easy to get to.

Hotels in the North have been affected as well. Boriboon Klinpatumwan, Assistant Sales Manager of Girang Health Village Hotel in Mae-Rim District in Chiang Mai, said that negative factors have caused Chiang Mai to lose 20 percent of its tourists. Therefore, the hotel has had to promote itself to Thai customers instead of foreigners by organizing packages to draw customers, like health programs.

Erwan Ma-e, Executive of Ibis Erawan Hotel Group, with hotels in Phuket, Pattaya, and Bangkok, predicts that in the last quarter of the year, Thai customers will help business plans achieve their initial goals.

In the previous period, there was a more than a 20 percent decrease in hotel guests.

Thai tourists, who are the hope of hotel business owners, said that spending money for traveling during the end of the year is necessary. Though the economy is slow and packaged tours, as well as room rates, have increased by ten percent, if a family plans well, there should be no problems. They also believe that traveling to other places will help them to escape political tension in Bangkok. Moreover, the decreasing price of oil has helped to cut costs in traveling.

The government has also pushed forward projects to boost sales from tourism in the end of the year. After the 14th "Thais Travel Thailand" and "World Travel 2008" event, the Tourism of Thailand will hold another major event to boost tourism from November 28 to 30, by the name of "Amazing Thailand Big Sales."

[Ulysses G.]

Yesterday afternoon the Pattaya Bus Station seemed quite full, more or less standing room only while waiting for the next bus. Mainly Thais though.

The bus station is always full, but they are not tourists.

[tropo]

I have removed two posts for personal attacks. No more please.

Thanks for finally removing it.

[Humphrey Bear]

From the current Pattaya Mail - the pinch is definitely being felt

City discusses bar opening hours

http://www.pattayamail.com/current/news.shtml#hd3

City officials meet with owners of entertainment establishments in Soi 6.

Staff reporters

City officials have agreed to the request of owners of entertainment businesses in Soi 6 (Yodsak) in Central Pattaya to discuss longer opening hours during which food and non-alcoholic drinks can be served, to help the businesses survive the current declining trade.

Some 50 bar and restaurant owners met with city officials on October 15 to lobby for longer opening hours during the high season to compensate for the declining number of tourists due to the current economic crisis.

While agreeing to compromise on opening hours, City officials insisted that the entertainment premises must operate within the law.

Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh, Pongtasit Pitchanan, deputy district chief of Banglamung, and city counselors went to Soi 6 to meet the business owners on location.

The officials were told that the owners had to open their bars and restaurants earlier to gather more business but police came to crack down and make arrests. The owners asked the city officials to understand the situation better and be more supportive.

Pongtasit told the business owners that while the authorities would discuss extending the opening hours, the owners themselves needed to keep their side of the bargain and conform with regulations for the good of tourism.

He said for example that the women and transvestite sex workers who “dress inappropriately and are too pushy” damage the overall image of Pattaya, especially in the eye of members of the media.

Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh emphasized that everyone must accept and follow regulations while Pattaya City would always provide as much support to business as it possibly can.

More discussions will now be held to relax opening-hour regulations, he said, as the meeting finished on a positive note.

Incidentally - bar/club owning friends in AC (Angeles City - Philippines - near Mount Pinatubo - adjacent to the former Clark Air Base) say that business is quite good, considering the economic situation / season / media reporting. But then they probably would. A couple of friends with bars in both places say that AC is much better than Pattaya - they're losing their socks in Pattaya and both are seriously thinking of pulling out. One transferring his LOS site to Snooky (Sihanoukville, Cambodia) the other concentrating on AC.

[gk10002000]

I can believe that. Pattaya is probably pretty overdone. Walking down Soi 7 and Soi 8 yesterday, I see lots and lots of girls, but most bars just do not seem that busy. The once cozy little Pattaya may be changing irreversibly in a direction not the most favorable for bar owners. Still a fun and easy place to visit.

[Hairy]

I realize Hawaii isn't Pattaya, but:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20081103...occupancy/print

Hotel occupancy rates crater in Hawaii

Mon Nov 3, 5:21 pm ET

HONOLULU – Hotel occupancy rates in Hawaii cratered to 63 percent in September. That is the lowest level since the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

A report by Hospitality Advisors LLC also says average daily room rates fell 2 percent. Hotel room revenue dropped by $37 million, a 17 percent decline over the same month in 2007.

Oahu hotels led in occupancy rates among the islands in September, filling 69 percent of their rooms. That is 10 percentage points lower than September a year ago. Kauai filled a bit less than 69 percent of its rooms, about 8 percentage points below a year ago.

About 57 percent of rooms in Maui were occupied in September, compared to 72 percent a year ago. Just 50 percent of rooms on the Big Island were filled, 10 percentage points less than a year ago.

So, Hawaiian tourism is down about 12% to 15%. Possibly people are saving for a big trip at Christmastime, but IMHO it's more likely the numbers will be similar then. I'd expect the same to be true of tourism to far-flung destinations like Thailand in general, too.

[alexanderthai]

I think it's not only Pattaya. It's everywhere around the world. People safe caz of US crisis. I still feel bright with Pattaya furture.Here has everything that human want to do which call (Sex city)

[Ulysses G.]

So, Hawaiian tourism is down about 12% to 15%. Possibly people are saving for a big trip at Christmastime, but IMHO it's more likely the numbers will be similar then. I'd expect the same to be true of tourism to far-flung destinations like Thailand in general, too.

That is nothing. So far, I would guess the figures about farang tourism in Thailand being down around 60% is just about right. There are a fair number of the cheaper backpackers and Westerners who come here every year for 5 months and live in 3,000 a month rooms and eat mostly in noodle stalls, but the free spending, middle class tourists are few and far between.