Indeed. If what Pattaya has to offer is what the tourist wants, it is world class in that sense. And it’s true, extending licensing hours will make it even more attractive for that type of tourist, and hence, even more world class. The issue is: is that the type of tourist that Thailand is targeting? According to TAT and Ministry of tourism, no. They want what they call quality tourists. Late night brawls, drunken behavior, public sex, etc etc, don’t seem to fit with that target segment. Specifically, I never heard TAT or the Ministry for tourism say: we want higher numbers of people staying in 2star accommodation who have the propensity to behave badly, get drunk every night and engage in fist fights, so let’s extend licensing hours and get more of them. But if the Thai tourism authorities want to call a spade a spade, then sure, go all in on Pattaya as a world class sex tourists delight and extend licensing hours. TBH, it’s not far from what they have been doing all along, they just don’t admit to it.
