Pattaya

775 million baht earmarked for revival of Pattaya tourism industry

Published

Wednesday, December 9, 2020 10:46

PHOTO: Pixabay

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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News Categories: Pattaya Tourism

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13 Comments

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!

Reply
- 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.
  
  Reply
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!

Reply
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…

Reply
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.

Reply
- 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.
  
  Reply
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.

Reply
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.

Reply
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.

Reply
Tori123

Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 6:59 pm

It’s funny though. They don’t know what to do with their hands now

Reply
Tori123

Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 7:26 pm

Such a beautiful town ruined

Reply
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.

Reply
- 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.
  
  Reply

Maya Taylor

A seasoned writer, with a degree in Creative Writing. Over ten years' experience in producing blog and magazine articles, news reports and website content.

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