Pattaya News
Pattaya news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s coastal entertainment hub. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Pattaya news source.
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Sponsored What do you need before moving from the US to Thailand?
The Thaiger key takeaways The most common medical emergencies for expats in Thailand include motorcycle accidents, tropical diseases, and food or water-borne illnesses. Air pollution and heat-related conditions like heatstroke also pose serious seasonal health risks, especially in northern and...
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Pattaya targets 27 million tourists in 2024 with robust strategies
Thai government officials have set their sights on ambitious targets and goals to bounce back from the economic fallout caused by the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions in 2024. Pattaya, whose economy is heavily dependent on tourism, amounting to about 90%, was majorly impacted as it has not yet fully recovered to the 2019 levels, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand…
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Heartless thief in Pattaya targets disabled woman’s lifeline: Stolen electric handcycle sparks outrage
A heartless thief left a disabled woman in Pattaya stranded after callously swiping her electric handcycle, her lifeline to mobility, on December 31 last year. The 20 year old victim, Alisa Umsin, now faces an uphill battle without her essential aid. The Thai woman with impairment to both her legs was left devastated when her electric handcycle, a vital hybrid…
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Pattaya police bust illegal Kratom ring targeting tourists
Pattaya police apprehended a vendor peddling illicit Kratom concoctions to unsuspecting foreign tourists and youngsters on Pattaya Beach on the night of January 2. Responding to the outcry of concerned locals, Pattaya’s finest executed a well-coordinated sting operation to collar a Thai vendor suspected of flouting the law by selling Kratom-laden drinks under the moonlight along Pattaya Beach. In a…
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Pattaya’s stinky scandal: Indian restaurant responsible for foul smell
The air near Phra Tamnak Hill in Pattaya recently turned putrid, leaving residents fuming over an unrelenting foul smell since yesterday, January 2. Suspected to emanate from a deluge of waste clogging up the drainage system, fingers are pointing at a nearby unnamed Indian eatery, accused of sidestepping proper waste disposal. Despite two complaints lodged with the Pattaya Municipal Office…
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Stranded fisherman accuses Pattaya maritime office of negligence
Pattaya was abuzz on New Year’s Eve when a Facebook user going by the name of Louis San aired his grievances about the Pattaya Maritime Disaster Prevention Office. His complaint centred around the office’s alleged lackadaisical attitude and the difficulty he faced in trying to reach them. Louis and his group of friends had taken a trip to Koh Phai…
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Pattaya punch-up perplexes police: Viral video captures motorcycle taxi turmoil outside central mall
A viral video emerged on Thai social media over the weekend showing a brutal attack on a foreign man by two motorcycle taxi riders outside Central Pattaya shopping mall. Police said they had received no reports of the incident. The Facebook user, เดฟร็อก ไทย, shared the video of the attack on December 30 with a caption that said: Pattaya motorcycle…
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Chinese man’s self-harm crisis defused in Pattaya luxury neighbourhood
In a luxury neighbourhood in Soi Khao Talo, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri, a distress call was received at the Pattaya Rescue Radio Centre at 8.30pm on December 29. The call reported a 25 year old Chinese man in the throes of self-harm. Swiftly, Nong Prue police and Pattaya volunteer rescue teams were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, they discovered the…
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Pattaya beach brawl erupts between Indian tourists and Thai locals (video)
In Pattaya, a group of Indian tourists and some Thai locals broke into a fight in the middle of the road at Pattaya beach on December 28. A viral video has been shared online shows the brawl involving sticks, belts, bottles, and even ladles, causing pandemonium and traffic mayhem. The one-minute footage, spreading like wildfire across social media, unveils a…
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Pattaya: British tourist injured in road accident involving motorbike
A 52 year old British tourist was struck by a motorcycle while crossing Thepprasit Road, Bang Lamung, Pattaya on the evening of December 28. The British man, known only as Mei, was struck by Thai motorcyclist, 35 year old Suphansa Taengthong, while crossing Thepprasit Road, creating a spectacle near a PTT gas station around 5.50pm. The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation’s…
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Tourist forgets Pattaya hotel location after heavy drinking on arrival
A recent event saw a foreign tourist, having just landed in Thailand, consume a substantial amount of alcohol and subsequently forget his accommodation’s location in Pattaya. The intoxicated traveller insisted on remaining in the taxi after arriving in Pattaya, causing a predicament for 53 year old taxi driver, Sayan Yodsanga. According to Sayan, a member of the Suvarnabhumi Taxi Cooperative,…
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Thai deputy PM rolls out road safety measures for New Year holidays
The Deputy Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, in conjunction with relevant agencies, convened a conference at 10:30am yesterday. The meeting aimed to lay out strategic measures for preventing road accidents, specifically focusing on the safety of drivers during the upcoming New Year holidays. Anutin expressed the Thai government’s deep concern for driver safety, a priority that takes on heightened importance during…
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TikTok star Mae Pla pleads for justice for son’s assault
Renowned Thai TikTok sensation Mae Pla has taken her fight for justice to the highest authority after her son and his friend were allegedly brutalised by security personnel at a popular Chon Buri pub. Visiting the Thai National Police Headquarters yesterday, December 26, the 44 year old influencer, Mae Pla aka Nawarat Phurinpuwadon met with Police Lieutenant General Achayon Kraithong,…
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Waves ban on Pattaya boats after tourist catamaran capsizes
The Marine Department, Pattaya Office, imposed a ban on small boats venturing into the Pattaya sea. With a red flag fluttering halfway up the mast yesterday, December 25, the Department issued a stern warning to fishing boats, jet skis, speedboats, and towing boats, urging them to stay ashore amid the turbulent waters. Large fishing vessels escaped a categorical ban but…
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Intoxicated tourist’s festive frolic on Pattaya Walking Street
On Pattaya Walking Street, a tourist found himself in the spotlight after refusing to foot the bill for his drinks, stirring a peaceful intervention by the local law enforcement on December 24. The tourist, whose identity remains undisclosed, showcased signs of inebriation, becoming uncooperative in settling his tab amounting to 198 baht. Responding swiftly to the distress call from the…
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Tourist speedboat capsizes near Bubu Island: all passengers rescued
The tourist speedboat Bandaya 19 met with an unfortunate incident on Sunday (December 24) as it capsized near Bubu Island, a mere 3 kilometres from Satun’s Lipe Island. The boat was ferrying 73 tourists, which included 3 children, and had 4 crew members on board at the time of the mishap. Without losing a beat, the Navy’s 491st Special Warfare…
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Pattaya’s New Year’s Eve beach bash: Extended hours and giant umbrellas
In a move to ring in the New Year with a bang, Pattaya has given the green light for beach umbrella operators to stay open overnight on New Year’s Eve. In a meeting chaired by Deputy Mayor Wuttisak Rermkijakarn on December 21, set the stage for exciting changes in the beach umbrella scene. Over 150 operators, along with top city…
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Pattaya: Traffic chaos at Bali Hai Pier
The picturesque road from Walking Street to Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya has transformed into a bustling bazaar, causing mayhem for both locals and tourists alike. The 1.5-kilometre stretch, once a serene link between nightlife and island getaways, is now a traffic-ridden nightmare. The situation has escalated to the point where motorcycles are haphazardly strewn across the road, leaving no…
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Foreigners defrauded by Thai woman with their passports leads to arrest
More than 30 foreigners turned the tables on a 33 year old woman, dragging her to the Pattaya City Police Station with a trove of 40 passports. The former language school teacher, Supawadee Thongnoi, stands accused of a cunning visa renewal scam that left expats high and dry in Thailand. Previously, victims had lodged complaints at the Pattaya City Police…
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Motorbike rider cheats death in Pattaya cable catastrophe
In Pattaya, a Bolt motorbike rider narrowly cheated death when he collided with a hanging cable, leaving his neck gruesomely wounded. The motorbike rider, 22 year old Ethan Ketwongsa, took to Facebook to recount his harrowing ordeal that unfolded on December 17. Cruising down Soi Ban Nern Thang Rotfai 1, just off the parallel railway road in East Pattaya, Ethan…
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Young firefighter steals hearts and extinguishes flames
Capturing the internet’s attention, six year old Peerapat, a kindergarten student at Wat U-Tapao Kindergarten in Chon Buri, has become a viral sensation after a video of him extinguishing a forest fire alongside adult firefighters surfaced on social media. The video, shared on Thai social media on December 18, has amassed over 2 million views, turning Peerapat into a symbol…
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Pattaya visa scam leaves hundreds of tourists out of pocket and overstaying
Hundreds of victims have been financially swindled by an unscrupulous visa extension agency in Pattaya, with some foreign victims being illegally overstayed in the Kingdom. Today, 36 year old Chanidapha Thowasakul, represented a group of more than 30 victims, including foreign nationals, and brought 33 year old Suphawadee (surname withheld) to the Pattaya City Police Station. The victims, with 40…
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Honesty prevails: Seafood restaurant staff’s noble act returns lost fortune to tourists
In a heartwarming twist of fate, a group of tourists, seemingly from the Middle East, narrowly escaped a financial catastrophe after leaving behind a bag loaded with 9,275 Dirhams and 105 US Dollars, totalling around 100,000 baht at the renowned Moom Aroi seafood restaurant in the Na Kluea area. On the evening of December 13, two women and two men…
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Mysterious body of foreigner floating in Sattahip bay
Sattahip police received a distress call from a vigilant local fisherman who stumbled upon a body about 500 metres offshore near an island in Sattahip Bay on December 16. Rushing to the scene, an elite team of investigative police and a search and rescue unit were met with the sight of an unknown male, clad in nothing but black shorts,…
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Pattaya Airways takes flight in Q4 2024
At an exclusive event in Bangkok, the CEO of the Pattaya Group Tosaporn Asunee, announced the imminent takeoff of Pattaya Airways in the fourth quarter of 2024. Tosaporn stated… “We see a rising demand for air transportation services as the post-Covid situation stabilises. “The industry is bouncing back, and the demand is increasing rapidly. Recognising this opportunity for expansion, we decided…
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Pattaya city plans for one-way roads trial in 2024
Located in Thailand, the bustling city of Pattaya recently grabbed headlines as city leaders declared their intent to usher in a significant change. Leaders in Pattaya City have revealed a proposal to convert the traffic flow on the bustling Soi Buakhao to one-way roads system. The announcement elicited diverse reactions and viewpoints, yet the prevailing sentiment among our readers, according…
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Pattaya Beach’s controversial sidewalks to be expanded following public outcry
Pattaya Beach’s controversial sidewalks caught the attention of the city’s Mayor, Poramese Ngampiches, who, after inspecting the area late last week, committed to expanding and improving the walkways. This follows a wave of public disapproval that swept across social media platforms, triggered by images of the newly paved sidewalks near Soi 13/2 and Royal Garden Mall. The beach has been…
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Foreign buyers flock to Thailand’s tropical condos: Chinese and Russians lead
Foreign buyers such as the Chinese and Russian are dominating the condominium scene, turning Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket into international real estate playgrounds. A staggering 10,703 units, raking in a jaw-dropping 52.3 billion baht, exchanged hands in the nine months leading up to September, marking a whopping 38% surge from the previous year, according to the Real Estate Information Center,…
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Pattaya gears up for the free ‘Music Youth Creative Space’ event
Pattaya is abuzz with anticipation for the upcoming Music Youth Creative Space event, a dynamic platform aimed at sparking musical interest and fostering the creative potential of the city’s young population. Slated to take place over two consecutive weekends, December 15-16 and December 22-23, the event promises a musical extravaganza at the picturesque Jomtien Beach. From 5pm to 10pm each…
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Transgender woman accused of 200,000 baht gold theft in Pattaya
Pattaya police recorded yet another transgender magpie thief case involving some gold and an Indian man in Sin City. This time a 39 year old transgender woman was apprehended at a condominium in Pattaya’s Nong Prue district, following allegations of theft in the middle of the night. The victim, a 40 year old Indian tourist, reported the loss of a…
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Highs and lows in Pattaya as marijuana shop puts its foot on the illegal laughing gas peddle
In Pattaya, a shop selling legal marijuana products was discovered to be selling laughing gas to tourists too. A discreet investigation revealed that the shop, operating under the guise of a legal enterprise, was surreptitiously selling nitrous oxide balloons to an unsuspecting clientele, comprising both Thai locals and curious foreign tourists. The audacity of the operation was epitomised by a…
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