Pattaya —
A number of Pattaya tourism operators have voiced their concerns over the idea of allowing nighttime venues on Beach Road to operate until 4 AM, citing concerns about noise pollution, safety, and the overall impact on the city’s image.
Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, the newly-elected president of the Association of Chonburi Tourism Federation (ACTF), stated that while he welcomed the implementation of 4 AM operating hours, he emphasized that the regulation should be applied selectively.
He argued that late-night hours should be applied specifically only to establishments on Walking Street, the city’s popular and legal nightlife area, and not Beach Road or other parts of Pattaya due to its mix of family-friendly establishments and residential areas.
The Pattaya News notes that starting from December 15th, the Thai government will permit entertainment venues to remain open until 4 AM in a bid to spur the economy. The regulation will begin with five tourism destinations: Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, and Pattaya.
With the emerging idea of including Beach Road as another permitted entertainment district, concerns arose that residents in nearby condos and hotels would be adversely affected.
Mr. Thanet further stated that Beach Road’s reputation could also potentially deteriorate further due to its alleged association with the sex industry.
He emphasized that not every tourist is seeking nightlife entertainment or intending to visit the red-light district in Pattaya nowadays, as the trend of the family segment is growing.
Tour operators from Russia and Taiwan have also allegedly raised concerns about Pattaya’s reputation for nightlife and the sex industry, deterring family-oriented travelers.
“Tourism operators should be prepared for changes. Of course, there are still those who seek nightlife entertainment when choosing Pattaya as their destination, but this group is much smaller and would gradually become even smaller,” said Mr. Thanet.
He advised that Pattaya should focus on attracting high-spending travelers by promoting more health and wellness tourism potential.
He said hotels in Na Jomtien have a competitive advantage over central Pattaya due to their beachfront location and proximity to U-tapao International Airport. Local airlines should also consider other routes with more opportunities, as tourists often combine trips to Pattaya with Bangkok or other provinces and prefer to use airports in Bangkok, Mr. Thanet said.
Meanwhile, the Thai cabinet has officially approved extending the operating hours for restaurants and entertainment venues in select areas of Bangkok, Phuket, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, and Ko Samui today, November 28th.
The regulation will take effect in December, aligning with the peak tourist season.
Original Article Source and Some Information: Bangkok Post
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