Pattaya
775 million baht earmarked for revival of Pattaya tourism industry

Officials in Pattaya are planning 2 development schemes, at a combined cost of 775 million baht, with hopes of reviving the city’s decimated tourism industry. The proposals have been named Neo Koh Lan and Old Town Na Klua, and will consist of 32 projects, which will be developed over the next 3 financial years. The Bangkok Post reports that funds for this fiscal year have already been assigned.
Pattaya has been particularly hard hit with the effects of the lockdowns and border closures with only a smattering of local tourists and some weekend traffic keeping the city alive. Hundreds of businesses have already closed… many will never re-open.
The Neo Koh Lan scheme is budgeted at 350 million baht for 21 projects, which will include building a scenic tower at Tawaen beach and carrying out landscape improvements, in addition to a pier maintenance centre and pier and footbridge at Hat Tien beach. Meanwhile, the Old Town Na Klua scheme will receive 425 million baht for 11 projects, with a focus on the area’s old community quarter, aimed at giving tourists an insight into how local fishermen live.
There are also plans for a 5-storey car park, to include a botanical garden with sky-walk, and a viewing tower budgeted at 96 million baht. Officials are also planning to develop a fresh market at a cost of 4.5 million baht, while 30 million has been earmarked for a makeover of Chaloem Phra Kiat Park.
In addition to development plans on the mainland, Pattaya mayor Sonthaya Khunpluem says there are a number of projects planned for Koh Lan, just off the coast, which normally welcomes around 7 million tourists a year. It’s hoped some new attractions can be developed as part of the Eastern Economic Corridor development plan. Similar plans are afoot for the neighbouring islands of Koh Sichang in Chon Buri and Koh Samet in Rayong province.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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Crime
29 arrested in Pattaya for smoking shisha above Indian restaurant

Police are investigating an Indian restaurant where they arrested 29 people for a late night party in Pattaya’s Soi 7. The incident took place at 12:30am at a 5 story building which had the first 3 floors closed. Police say the venue was actually operating as a shisha lounge, pool hall, and bar.
The raid was based on a tip from an undercover officer who had previously confirmed the location was open and operating. When police entered the building, they found 29 people either smoking shisha, or hookah pipes, while others were playing pool, or snooker. Police say they found 18 hookah pipes (as distinct from 18 hookers).
In Thailand, shisha and hookah is illegal. 11 foreigners from India, Cambodia, and other countries were found at the venue. The remainder were Thai nationals. All 29 were arrested and taken to the Pattaya Police station where they will face charges under the Emergency Decree Act, the Communicable Disease Act and possession of an illegal substance.
Police say they don’t know who owned or managed the venue and they claimed many of the people present were “playing dumb” in terms of how they knew about the venue or who was responsible for it. Police say they will be interrogating and interviewing those arrested today to determine who should be held responsible. They also seized documents from offices on the top floor relating to ownership.
Pattaya is a “highly controlled” zone as set by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, which sees it under the toughest rules in the country in order to curb the spreading of Covid infections. Chonburi has seen 0 new cases in the past 3 days, sparking anticipation from residents and business owners for the strict measures to relax. Health authorities say they will review the measures at the end of the month, but are not promising to make a change.
SOURCE: The Pattaya News
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Pattaya
Chonburi sees 0 new Covid-19 infections for 3 days in a row

Chonburi province has reported another day of 0 cases of Covid-19, marking the third day in a row to see no cases. In the past 6 days only one case has been reported in the province and all of that person’s relatives have tested negative for the virus.
The provincial health office says they will keep doing doing targeted mass testing for all of next week in the community. It says those in the province’s high risk groups will receive free testing.
Those who fall into the high risk category either worked or visited places recently like the Chonburi Provincial Employment Office, are migrant workers living in crowded camps, are people showing symptoms of the virus, and people who work with the public like taxi drivers and supermarket employees.
The Department did not say if any measures or restrictions will be lifted any time soon as the province remains under stiff travel restrictions with many businesses having been forced to close. The provincial Administrative Organisation President, Wittaya Khunplume, says that the province is preparing to propose to the government to be downgraded from a deep red high-risk zone to an orange zone and ease measures.
There is no timeline or date for this proposal, however, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration is due to meet on January 31 to officially discuss measures and restrictions. But health authorities in the province say there’s no guarantee of a relaxation of measures by the end of the month.
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Chinese businessmen hand out food in Pattaya

Chinese businessmen are helping to feed people in Pattaya after handing out over 1,000 meals to the needy last night. The handouts occurred near Third Road with Pattaya City Police nearby to help ensure social distancing and other safety measures.
Hundreds of locals were seen queing for the event well before it was scheduled to start, indicating the increasing need for aid. As Pattaya is part of Chon Buri province, an area that has been indicated as “highly controlled” due to the second wave of Covid-19 that hit Thailand in the past couple of months.
That wave, sent businesses and venues into shutdown, with many struggling to survive. But recently, Pattaya has recorded only 1 new case of the virus in the past 4 days, and only single digit cases in the past week. Local businesses are hoping this decrease in virus numbers will help speed up the reopening of businesses.
Although many venues can stay open, such as restaurants, their opening hours are restricted as well as seeing hardly any customers due to the travel restrictions in the province, which requires permission from a district official in writing in order to enter or leave.
Previously, Pattaya was relying on domestic tourism to keep it afloat after Thailand placed measures that essentially stopped foreign tourists from arriving. Now, many hotels in Pattaya are struggling to keep their staff and have resorted to selling their restaurants’ food on the streetsor offering delivery in an attempt to support their remaining staff.
Despite multiple requests for the government to force businesses to shutdown, which would put many formal workers at hotels on social security, it has been denied. Chonburi Public Health Officials say they will be reviewing the strict measures at the end of the month, but warn it isn’t a promise of allowing businesses to reopen.
Despite the area restricting tourism, Pattaya city officials have announced they will spend funds to clean up the Walking Street and decorate the streets for Chinese New Year on February 12.
SOURCE: The Pattaya News
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Toby Andrews
Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 11:39 am
There is 775 million baht ready to help the revival of the tourist industry, but the government will not allow the tourists to spend it in Pattaya without a lot of expensive restrictions.
And is it likely that Thai tourists are going to flock to Pattaya because of
maintenance on the pier, and land scape improvements, plus all the other yawn provoking incentives.
A five story car park!
There is a mult=istrory car park in a Wat on south Pattaya road. It is never more than a quarter full!
Derek Kwok
Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 8:57 am
why waste money to build a 5-storey carpark in Pattaya as hardly people drive and the carpark will be under utilised and will become white elephant.
I. B. Roke
Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 11:44 am
A little “old Thai money”, plus a lot of “new Chinese money”, equals a happy CCP member & of course Uncle… Let’s hope the 2,000 to 3,000 quarantined tourists that show up next year appreciate the wasted money on projects that do nothing for the poor Thai people!
775 million would go a long way to feed, house and educate the Thai people and to educate the children of the poor in those areas.
I really miss the old King….he gave so much!
Long Time Gone
Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 12:07 pm
Tourists will flock to Pattaya…the noise, the dust, the constant inconvenience of construction! What a great idea! Plus the incentive of quarantine, and farang billing will bring them in droves.
Of course the starving Thais laying along the streets may be a deterrent, but that never stops investors. I’m sure the 2 to 3,000 tourists who do show up next year won’t mind the sadness, the boarded up businesses, and the permanent scares of a tourist area that is no more…
EdwardV
Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 12:38 pm
Why would you spend 776 million baht on a plan that will take 3 years to finish to fix a problem that will resolve itself in 2 years? That’s not even taking into account these projects never finish when planned. All Pattaya needs to revive the tourist sector is tourists, and they should start arriving by the fall.
Issan John
Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 8:02 pm
“Why …?”
Come on, Ed V.
For the same reason that all the other plans for Pattaya are given outrageous funding, and why the roads cost ten times as much as anywhere else in Thailand and last for a tenth of the time.
775 million to fund unnecessary projects that will never be completed properly means 75 million to be wasted on going through the motions with the projects and 700 million in tea money.
Peter
Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 12:44 pm
The 5 storey car park is rumoured to be being built on the lovely picnic park at Naklua fish market, where people lie on the grass and eat tbeir barbaqued shell fish.
It’s actually a very nice day out from Pattaya.
Forget the sheer back handed fraud in this wasting of public money but these clueless corrupt incompetent public officials are removing the reasons for even going back to Thailand.
Forget the poverty guys, let’s set about wrecking what vestages of beauty we have left.
Daryle
Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 2:09 pm
The tile of this article should read:-
‘750 million baht will get the tea money flowing!’
You could not make this shit up, if you tried.
Toby Andrews
Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 2:38 pm
Yes I saw the motive for the public officials.
Every project is another opportunity for bribery, and skimming.
Plus the work can be diverted to their own friends and family.
Tori123
Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 6:59 pm
It’s funny though. They don’t know what to do with their hands now
Tori123
Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 7:26 pm
Such a beautiful town ruined
Mike Frenchie
Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 10:22 pm
775 million THB is a help but will NEVER replace the 400 billion THB spent yearly buy the foreign tourists! In my view, the Pattaya city would be better off starting to destroy the numerous towers/condos never ended and rotting all around the city.
Issan John
Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 1:30 am
I’m sure those familiar with Pattaya know exactly who the 775 million will “help”, and that it will do nothing, literally nothing, to help the tourist industry.