PATTAYA, Thailand
Late on the night of June 15th, 2026, a large number of homeless individuals had turned Pattaya Beach and Pattaya Second Road into makeshift sleeping areas, creating an eyesore in one of Thailand’s premier tourist destinations and raising concerns among local business operators.
A Pattaya News reporter who surveyed the area around 11:30 p.m. found dozens of homeless people scattered across Pattaya Beach and nearby roads and closed shops. Some were sleeping on public benches, while others had laid out mats or belongings along the shoreline to shield themselves.
Similar scenes happened on Pattaya Second Road, where groups of homeless people had claimed areas in front of closed shops as sleeping quarters. Some were observed drinking alcohol and possibly under the influence of illegal drugs. Some had accumulated various trash and other items, hurting the image of nearby areas.
Local business operators and residents told reporters that authorities had previously conducted crackdowns, rounding up homeless for screening, documentation, and official assistance programs on multiple occasions. However, many of those removed have since returned, once again occupying public spaces in large numbers.
Operators are now calling on relevant social agencies to implement serious and sustained solutions. They stressed that the affected areas are major tourist hubs visited by large numbers of both Thai and international travelers. If the problem is allowed to persist, they warned, it could cause long-term damage to Pattaya’s reputation as a top family friendly tourist destination.
