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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  • Russian beauty queen faces grim future in notorious Thai prison

    Russian beauty queen faces grim future in notorious Thai prison

    A former child beauty queen faces being locked up in a squalid Thai detention centre after allegedly overstaying her visa by just 10 days. Alexandra Tikhomirova, crowned Little Miss Russia in 2013, is currently behind bars in Pattaya, a popular tourist hotspot, where she is reportedly held in dire conditions. According to Russian media, the 23 year old is imprisoned…

  • Irishman arrested for cannabis shop break-in in Pattaya

    Irishman arrested for cannabis shop break-in in Pattaya

    Tourist Police and Pattaya Police have apprehended an Irishman following a break-in at a cannabis shop in Pattaya. The 23 year old man allegedly broke a window to access marijuana products, which he consumed until he passed out. The incident, which took place on February 2, was captured on CCTV. Following a complaint lodged at Pattaya City Police Station, an…

  • High-speed horror: American killed in fiery Pattaya crash

    High-speed horror: American killed in fiery Pattaya crash

    A late-night joyride ended in tragedy when an American motorcyclist lost control and crashed into trees on Thappraya Road, Pattaya, dying instantly. The Sawang Boriboon Rescue Centre received reports yesterday, February 6, at 4.36am of a fatal motorcycle accident near Soi Thappraya 9. Emergency responders arrived to find 53 year old Leo Williams, an American national, lying lifeless in a…

  • Icelandic man gets his face busted after falling into Pattaya drain

    Icelandic man gets his face busted after falling into Pattaya drain

    An Icelandic tourist suffered painful facial injuries after tumbling into an uncovered drainage hole on a hazardous Pattaya footpath—yet another grim reminder of the city’s crumbling infrastructure. The accident occurred around 1am yesterday, February 6 along Pattaya Second Road. The tourist, left bleeding from facial wounds, was treated at the scene by Sawang Boriboon Rescue Foundation before being rushed to…

  • Sin city: Brit beaten by furious Thai bar girls over unpaid bill (video)

    Sin city: Brit beaten by furious Thai bar girls over unpaid bill (video)

    A British tourist was beaten with high heels and thrown out of a Thai bar by furious female workers after refusing to settle his tab. The middle-aged holidaymaker and his friend were treating a group of young women to drinks at a bar in Pattaya, Thailand’s infamous nightlife hub, when the night took a violent turn. The man allegedly refused…

  • Shore thing: Viral video shows Indian tourists sleeping on Pattaya Beach

    Shore thing: Viral video shows Indian tourists sleeping on Pattaya Beach

    A video circulating on Instagram showing what appears to be a mass takeover of Pattaya Beach by Indian tourists has set social media on fire. Shared with the not-so-subtle caption “Indian Tourists in Pattaya,” the clip reveals around 100 holidaymakers lounging on mats. Some are seen knocking back beers while surrounded by unsightly piles of litter. The footage has ignited…

  • South Korean arrested for illegal tour guide work in Chon Buri

    South Korean arrested for illegal tour guide work in Chon Buri

    A South Korean man’s dream job in Thailand turned into a nightmare when he was arrested in Chon Buri for allegedly working illegally as a tour guide while leading a group of tourists on a luxury boat tour. Tourist Police swooped yesterday, February 5, catching the man in the act as he escorted a group of South Korean tourists aboard…

  • Fare fight: Bang Lamung bikers protest against ride-hailing rivals

    Fare fight: Bang Lamung bikers protest against ride-hailing rivals

    Bang Lamung’s motorcycle taxi drivers are revving up their engines in protest, calling on government departments to clamp down on ride-hailing services they say are taking the wind out of their financial sails. On Tuesday, February 4, representatives from the Public Motorcycle Taxi Association for Tourism met with district chief Patcharapatch Sritanyanont, demanding swift action to curb these so-called interlopers.…

  • Pattaya shooting leads to surrender of two suspects

    Pattaya shooting leads to surrender of two suspects

    A violent incident in Pattaya involving a shooting has led to the surrender of two people, including the father of a 14 year old girl involved in a dispute with another teenager. The shooting resulted in injuries to three people. Two men, 36 year old Kittisak and 30 year old Ekachai, turned themselves in to the Pattaya police on Tuesday,…

  • Escaped Thai inmate from Nonthaburi caught on Chon Buri beach

    Escaped Thai inmate from Nonthaburi caught on Chon Buri beach

    Police arrested an inmate who had escaped from Nonthaburi Provincial Prison on February 2 while enjoying the beach in Chon Buri. The 32 year old prisoner, Wasan Obnual, seized an opportunity while working for the Department of Corrections at the Corrections Museum in Nonthaburi to escape. He immediately took a taxi back home, which was close to both the museum…

  • Jealous Thai man smashes ex-wife’s car, writes vulgarities on it

    Jealous Thai man smashes ex-wife’s car, writes vulgarities on it

    A Thai man in Pattaya apologised to his ex-wife after smashing her car and writing vulgar words on the vehicle yesterday, February 4. The 24 year old Thai woman, Thananya Khunwiset, filed a complaint against her ex-husband, 26 year old Thanadon, for causing damage to her car, a dark blue Honda Brio with the registration plate ขน 1747 Chon Buri.…

  • Police raid Pattaya nightclubs in surprise crackdown

    Police raid Pattaya nightclubs in surprise crackdown

    Pattaya’s nightlife came under the spotlight as Tourist Police and Chon Buri Immigration officers launched surprise raids on entertainment venues on February 3. The operation, conducted under the 5 Safe policy, aimed to crack down on drugs, weapons, human trafficking, and illegal foreign workers while ensuring overall safety. Police targeted popular nightlife hotspots along Pattaya Third Road, where foreign tourists…

  • Parking puzzle: Pattaya evens out the odds to curb traffic congestion

    Parking puzzle: Pattaya evens out the odds to curb traffic congestion

    In a bid to tackle the notorious traffic congestion in South Pattaya, city officials have rolled out a strict enforcement of odd-even parking rules on the bustling South Pattaya Road. Starting Monday, February 3, the initiative aims to streamline traffic flow and bring order to the chaotic streets. On the first day of enforcement, Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampichet took to…

  • Israeli fugitive wanted for stabbing caught hiding in Pattaya

    Israeli fugitive wanted for stabbing caught hiding in Pattaya

    A 27 year old Israeli fugitive was arrested in Pattaya after Thai immigration police discovered he was wanted for a violent assault in Tel Aviv and had overstayed his visa. The suspect, identified only as T, was apprehended yesterday, February 3 after police found he was listed on an Interpol Red Notice for a gruesome attack in Israel. Officers arrested…

  • British tourist’s bribery tale jailed as ‘untrue’ by Pattaya police chief

    British tourist’s bribery tale jailed as ‘untrue’ by Pattaya police chief

    A British tourist’s claims of bribing his way out of a Pattaya jail have been denounced as “largely untrue” by a Pattaya police chief. However, in a bid for transparency, the Pattaya police chief promises a thorough review of the evidence. Police Colonel Nawin Theerawit, head of the Pattaya Police Station in Chon Buri province, issued a strong denial yesterday,…

  • Drunken tourist passes out in front of Pattaya Police Station

    Drunken tourist passes out in front of Pattaya Police Station

    A heavily intoxicated foreign man sparked alarm after collapsing unconscious outside Pattaya Police Station, leaving bystanders and officers scrambling to assist. The unnamed tourist was found lying in the parking area on Sunday night, February 2, blocking visitors from retrieving their vehicles. Police and rescue workers examined him and found no signs of assault, determining that his extreme alcohol consumption…

  • Family arrested after illegal land occupation in Sattahip

    Family arrested after illegal land occupation in Sattahip

    Royal Thai Police (RTP) and naval forces in Sattahip apprehended a family for defying a court order by illegally occupying private land. The family resisted arrest, with one member attempting to flee on horseback, but eventually surrendered after negotiations yesterday, February 3 at 2.10pm. Police Colonel Thanaphon Klinkesaorn, along with Deputy Police Colonel Suwichak Ruennuamdee and an investigative team, arrived…

  • Pattaya Mayor rushes to aid injured tourist after road crash

    Pattaya Mayor rushes to aid injured tourist after road crash

    Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet turned into a first responder after a tourist was injured in a motorcycle accident on South Pattaya Road yesterday, February 3. The dramatic moment unfolded as the mayor and local council members were conducting a field visit to oversee new parking regulations. Their routine inspection quickly turned into an emergency response when they came across the…

  • Runaway truck leaves ‘sign’ of trouble near Pattaya

    Runaway truck leaves ‘sign’ of trouble near Pattaya

    Motorway officials were thrown into high drama last night as a massive signboard came crashing down across a bustling road near Pattaya, sparking traffic mayhem and sparking fears of electric shocks. The drama unfolded yesterday, February 2, at the motorway exit leading to the toll plaza en route to an international school just outside the city. When officials arrived on…

  • British man’s Thailand trip goes from heaven to prison hell (video)

    British man’s Thailand trip goes from heaven to prison hell (video)

    A British man ventured to Thailand anticipating nothing more than a peaceful, sun-drenched escape, yet, his dream holiday rapidly descended into a nightmare after a seemingly trivial mishap spiralled into a chain of catastrophic events. Arrested, assaulted, and stripped of his belongings, Andrew Hopkins’ tale unfolds as a chilling reminder for would-be travellers drawn to the Land of Smiles. It…

  • Pattaya showdown: Family feud turns into a Western gunfight

    Pattaya showdown: Family feud turns into a Western gunfight

    In a scene more suited to a Spaghetti Western movie, a heated feud between two local families in Pattaya last night spiralled into a gunfight, leaving several injured. The explosive altercation unfolded along the railway roadside just before Soi Siam Country Club, on the inbound stretch towards Sattahip in the Bang Lamung district. At precisely 10.06pm, yesterday, February 2, the…

  • Bud luck: Bold bandit breaks into Pattaya pot shop, swipes stash

    Bud luck: Bold bandit breaks into Pattaya pot shop, swipes stash

    Budbox Pattaya was the scene of a daring break-in yesterday morning. The infamous cannabis shop, situated in front of the JA Plus Hotel on Soi Chalermprakiat 3, was targeted by a bold foreign bandit who smashed his way through the glass doors to make off with goods valued at around 10,000 baht. The break-in occurred at approximately 11am, yesterday, February…

  • Swiss tourist reunited with lost Samsung mobile in Pattaya

    Swiss tourist reunited with lost Samsung mobile in Pattaya

    A Swiss tourist in Pattaya, who had misplaced his Samsung S24, has been reunited with his phone thanks to the efforts of a good Samaritan and the Bang Lamung police. On January 29, Police Colonel Navin Sinthurat, Chief of Bang Lamung Police Station, directed his team to return the device after it was handed over by a helpful man named…

  • Pattaya tourism surges with Russian and European influx

    Pattaya tourism surges with Russian and European influx

    Pattaya has experienced a notable increase in tourism during the current High Season, with a significant influx of visitors from Russia and Europe, as reported by Thanes Supharahasrangsi, president of the Chon Buri Tourism Association. On January 29, Thanes highlighted that many of these tourists are opting for extended stays in the city, contributing to a vibrant local economy. Thanes…

  • Drunken tourists attack Bolt driver in Pattaya over ‘silent treatment’

    Drunken tourists attack Bolt driver in Pattaya over ‘silent treatment’

    A ride-hailing driver in Pattaya was left bruised and battered after a group of drunken tourists attacked him for refusing to engage in conversation. The shocking incident took place around 3am on Wednesday, January 29 in Soi Buakhao, South Pattaya, when 29 year old Suradet Khawlamai picked up five passengers from the Marina Pattaya South area. The group included two…

  • Drunk Thai woman crashes pickup into 11 parked vehicles in Pattaya

    Drunk Thai woman crashes pickup into 11 parked vehicles in Pattaya

    A drunk Thai woman crashed her pickup into 11 parked vehicles on Pattaya Sai Sam Road in the early hours of this morning. Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident. Officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station were alerted to the incident at 3.20am today, January 31, and rushed to the scene. They encountered a sedan with a damaged rear…

  • Israeli man arrested for trying to exchange fake dollars in Pattaya

    Israeli man arrested for trying to exchange fake dollars in Pattaya

    Police arrested an Israeli man after he tried to exchange fake US dollars at an exchange shop in Soi Bua Khao, Pattaya, yesterday, January 30. Staff at a currency exchange shop filed a complaint with Pattaya Tourist Police, reporting that the Israeli man, later identified as 56 year old Rami Ayash, had visited the shop to exchange US dollars for…

  • Investors to pump 40 billion baht into Pattaya’s tourism sector

    Investors to pump 40 billion baht into Pattaya’s tourism sector

    Investors are set to inject 40 billion baht into Pattaya, focusing on new hotels and attractions to enhance tourism. On Wednesday, January 29, Wallaya Traisorat, CEO and President of Asset World Corporation (AWC) announced the opening of Meliá Pattaya Hotel, a 234-room property with an investment exceeding 2 billion baht. This hotel targets workcation travellers, digital nomads, meetings, incentives, conferences…

  • Motorbikes flout Pattaya’s one-way rule, locals demand action

    Motorbikes flout Pattaya’s one-way rule, locals demand action

    Traffic in Pattaya’s bustling Buakhao area is turning into a dangerous free-for-all, as motorbikes continue to ignore one-way restrictions on Soi Honey and Soi Diana, raising serious safety concerns among residents and business owners. Despite clear one-way street designations, riders are brazenly driving against the flow of traffic, creating chaos and near-miss collisions in the heart of Pattaya’s nightlife district.…

  • Pattaya tragedy: Tourist killed, wife critical after speeding bike crash

    Pattaya tragedy: Tourist killed, wife critical after speeding bike crash

    A romantic evening turned into a nightmare for a Russian couple in Pattaya when a speeding motorcycle ploughed into them as they crossed the street hand in hand. The foreign rider struck them at high speed, killing the husband instantly and leaving his wife in critical condition. The accident happened just before midnight yesterday, January 29 on Jomtien Second Road,…