Does anyone actually like Pattaya?

[S Landreth]

Quiet night in Pattaya

PATTAYA, Chon Buri: This eastern seaside tourist town was eerily quiet on Wednesday night after a lockdown order was issued by the provincial communicable disease committee to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease.

Under the order, Bang Lamung district, including Pattaya, was declared a "maximum control (red) zone" after the number of Covid-19 infections shot up to 144 on Wednesday.

All department stores are closed, except takeaway food shops and drug stores.

Also closed are massage parlours, fitness centres, pubs, bars and liquor shops.

All entertainment venues in Pattaya shut their doors last night. Walking Street was empty. Only a few people were seen heading back to their homes. No tourists were in sight.

Food shops which usually cater to night revellers were closed. Vehicles normally seen vending food and miscellaneous items were gone.

The entire beach was empty.: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...ght-in-pattaya

Empty beach? No. I am sure there was a beach dog or two protecting their stretch of beach.

[S Landreth]

Pattaya is a ghost town, but a handful entrepreneurs persevere

It was often said that Thailand’s world famous seaside resort town of Pattaya never sleeps. That was broadly true, until late last month, when the country’s second wave of COVID-19 struck. It began in nearby Rayong province and quickly spread to three other coastal provinces, including Chon Buri.

All four coastal provinces in the eastern region, and Samut Sakhon, have now been declared maximum-security Red Zones, including Pattaya in Chon Buri.

Although many tourism-related businesses in Pattaya were affected by the first wave of the infections early last year, forcing some to close, there was no complete lockdown, as is the case today, and the situation gradually improved through the second half of the year, offering renewed hope to many entrepreneurs, albeit without Chinese tourists.

Many placed their hope on the recent long New Year holiday, which would normally have given them some short-term relief with the arrival of Thai visitors. Sadly though, their hopes were dashed.

The formerly vibrant resort is now a ghost town. The famous walking street is eerily quiet as all the bars and shops remain shuttered. It is pitch black at night, as all the decorative lights and sign boards are off, although the street lights still illuminate the empty roads.

Haunting “Annabelle” dolls have been placed anonymously at the entrance to the walking street, and on beach road, as if to drive home the message that Pattaya has become a ghost town.

Despite the despair and desperation of many entrepreneurs, some have not lost all hope and remain determined to overcome the town’s worst crisis ever.

The Center Point Prime Hotel, on the Sukhumvit Road in Bang Lamung district, is an example of the fighting spirit. The hotel recently erected an illuminated sign in Thai, which reads “Soo Soo” or “Fight Fight”, to offer moral support to the other beleaguered businesses.: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pattaya...urs-persevere/

[S Landreth]

Pattaya hotels want to be closed so employees can claim state benefits

Hotels and tourism-related businesses in Pattaya want the Chon Buri provincial administration to order the temporary closure of all hotels in the town, so that their employees can claim unemployment benefit from the Social Security Fund.

This proposal was raised with Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunpluem at a meeting today.

Pattaya is now deserted, since Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat and Samut Sakhon were declared COVID-19 Red Zones. Entry to and exit from these provinces now requires official authorization. These lockdown measures have severely impacted the hotel sector, with occupancy rates at almost zero.

Representatives of the hotels reportedly told the city mayor that, in the neighboring province of Chanthaburi, the governor has already ordered all hotels to close temporarily and they want a similar measure applied in Pattaya and other districts in Chon Buri.

Without the hotels being ordered to close, their employees would not be eligible for unemployment benefits, to help them weather the crisis.

After the meeting, Mayor Sonthaya told the media he had no objection to the operators’ proposal, which will be referred to the Provincial Communicable Disease Committee for consideration.

As chair of the committee, the governor is empowered to order the temporary closure of all hotels to contain the spread of the virus.

Sonthaya said, however, that the proposal must be considered very carefully because the sector employs about 80,000 people and the closure of all hotels will have widespread consequences.: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pattaya...te-benefits-2/

[S Landreth]

Pattaya launches ‘Welcome back to Pattaya’ campaign

Pattaya yesterday (February 1st) launched a new campaign designed to bring back domestic tourism called ‘Welcome Back to Pattaya’.

The event was led by Deputy Minister of Public Health Dr. Sathit Pitutecha, director-general Doctor Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoen, the Chonburi Vice Governor Naris Niramaiwong and The Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunplume.

Mr. Sonthaya told The Pattaya News, “Pattaya City has officially opened up to domestic tourism under CCSA (Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration) precautions and measurements. This is expected to improve the local economy after the past month of widespread business closures due to Covid-19 regulations.”

“We welcome everyone to the new NEO Pattaya. We are ready to welcome domestic tourists. Many domestic tourists have already returned and visited Koh Larn.”

Dr. Sathit said, “We have to say thank you to everyone that helped to get through the recent round of Covid – 19 pandemic related cases.”

“After we get vaccines rolled out in Thailand, we should also be able to explore how to bring back foreign tourists to Pattaya.” Sathit added.

“However, today we are sure Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi and the Eastern provinces of Thailand have strong health measurements and precautions in place.” Sathit concluded.

The event also rolled out, The Pattaya News notes, new mascots for the city, a series of walking dolphin characters. Pattaya is now fully open, including their famous entertainment venues, although with an 11:00 P.M. closure time officially.: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/02/0...taya-campaign/

[S Landreth]

Two tourist hotspots eye resurgence

Two of Thailand's most popular tourist destinations, Phuket and Pattaya City, have launched new promotions as the Covid-19 crisis shows signs of improving.

Phuket has come up with an online campaign called "Have You Ever" while Pattaya City kicked off "Check in Chonburi Free 500".

Phuket governor Narong Wunsiew said on Wednesday that with the island's tourism sector having been hit severely by the coronavirus, it was now time for the province to begin reviving its economy.

Phuket's natural beauty meant it wouldn't have to invest much to attract tourists to return to the island, he said, adding that its main attractions were included in a new promotional video released on social media.

New drawcards would also be promoted, said Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, president of the Phuket Tourist Association.

Nanthasiri Ronsiri, director of Tourism Authority of Thailand's Phuket office, said the "Have You Ever" campaign also promoted a subculture being developed in the province, which potential visitors were being urged to experience.

Phaithun Silapawisut, an adviser to the president of Phuket's provincial administration organisation, called on Thais around the country to share the campaign's Facebook page as a way of attracting foreigners to visit Phuket again.

As for the "Check in Chonburi Free 500" campaign in Pattaya, visitors who check into a hotel anywhere in the province will be offered a 100 baht cash coupon for use at about 130 tourist attractions, spas, restaurants and cafes.

Five coupons will be given for the first night in which the guest stays, up to a maximum of 10 coupons for two nights or a double-booking on the same night.

More information about the campaign can be found at www.pattayadealdee.com.

Ekkasit Ngamphichet, president of Pattaya's Association for Businesses and Tourism, said the campaign was supported by various local groups, including spas and wellness businesses, restaurants and bistros.

Thitiphat Siranatthasikun, president of the Association of Chonburi Attractions, said only hotel guests who live outside Chon Buri are entitled to receive the coupons.: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...eye-resurgence

[S Landreth]

Pattaya’s 1st legal cannabis clinic opens

Thai Herb Plus opened Pattaya’s first cannabis business, offering food, beverages and other products made from previously illegal marijuana.

Rungsri Jungthanasombat, director of Thai Traditional Medicine Development Center, opened Reun Reang Kan at the C Space Market on Soi Chaiyapruek 2.

His legal cannabis products are made from stems, roots and leaves which have their inebriating THC removed.

Previously, Thailand considered cannabis a Category 5 narcotic. While recreational and selling of marijuana remains illegal, certain uses were decriminalized last year.

Rungsri’s Thai Herb Plus initiative will host a cannabis-products fair at Terminal 21 Pattaya March 16-21 to educate the public on the new products. He also plans to open a second store at Tukcom in South Pattaya.: https://www.pattayamail.com/news/pat...c-opens-347119

made from stems, roots and leaves which have their inebriating THC removed.

Then what’s the point?

[sabang]

None.

[scat2]

Hmmm....
Notice that this thread is dominated by those who haven't a clue about the relevant subject matter, yet continue to pretend that they do?

Odd.

[S Landreth]

Pattaya struggles to keep heads above water until foreign tourists return

Bar girls are muddling through, former cooks are collecting scrap, and social workers are scooping up the homeless as Pattaya locals try to survive until foreign tourists return.

With the majority of hotels closed and seemingly two of every three businesses shuttered, unemployment in Pattaya remains critical. While hundreds of thousands have left the city to return to rural provinces, some have stayed and hopeful others have returned.: https://www.pattayamail.com/news/pat...-return-349469

[serrollt]

Hmmm....
Notice that this thread is dominated by those who haven't a clue about the relevant subject matter, yet continue to pretend that they do?

Odd.

Posters who actually stayed or lived there, and aren't posting from Portland, Oregon.

[scat2]

Posters who actually stayed or lived there, and aren't posting from Portland, Oregon.

Or even the worst variety, the phonies who pretend to have a residence, family and faux association here but never really settle in - a two week holiday "commute" every couple of years...and keep on pretending they have knowledge about the place and it's goings on. There are quite a few of these charlatans around, usually finding their way into venues that they really don't belong to.

You know the type.

The real old hands can only be embarrassed for these wannabes.

[serrollt]

No need to be embarassed about a wannabe phony spamming fora with scat from a mental institution in the US.
Such disconnected characters are disowned by old hands and other knowledgable folks.

To put it succinctly: F.O.J.

[scat2]

[S Landreth]

F.o.j.

[scat2]

Wanabes in tandem -