Pattaya to ban parking on beach side of road from March 1
Pattaya City is banning parking on the beach side of the road from March 1. Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampiches, says the move is in response to an increase in traffic issues after the city has seen more tourists arriving.
According to The Pattaya News, the new rule stirred up social media reactions with many residents agreeing with the move. However, those living outside of the city say they will stop visiting Pattaya. Those who disagree with the new rule have asked where they will park if they cannot park on the beach side of the road.
Meanwhile, despite losing parking spaces on the beach road, those who want to get frisky can now stop by a vending machine to buy condoms.
The move to make sex in Thailand’s Sin City safer started yesterday as condoms were loaded into vending machines located in two areas of the city: Laem Bali Hai Pier and Pattaya City Hospital. The new stock includes four different sizes to fit almost anyone.
The initiative is part of the National Health Security Office’s new campaign “Love Bang Love Safety” which aims to tackle teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.
The project is being piloted in Pattaya, the sex capital of the world, with the scope to expand depending on its success.
The NHSO has launched an app called Paotang where Thai gold card holders can request various forms of contraception and emergency contraception, which they can access at the nearest NHSO service kiosk near them.
Dr Chadet Thammatcha-aree, secretary-general of the NHSO, said…
“The NHSO has prepared 94,566,600 condoms in four sizes for distribution which can be accessed in two ways.
“Firstly, gold card holders can register on the Paotang application, make a request, and pick the condoms up from the nearest service kiosk to their home. Those who don’t have a smartphone can register at the service kiosk to get condoms.
“Alternatively, simply go to a condom vending machine in Pattaya and confirm your identity with your ID card.”
However, the initiative has been criticised as inaccessible to some groups who could benefit from it.
The deputy director of the Friends of Sex Workers Foundation (SWING) said the project is a good idea however does not respond to everyone’s needs due to the identity proof requirement.
He said that sex workers might want to buy condoms without revealing their identities.
