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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  • THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, February 27 | Thaiger

    THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, February 27

    Flooding in BKK | More than 100 new political parties poised to register | Two Aunties waiting to be charged over Great Driveway Affair | Activists asking for transparency over Premchai case | Update on Russian ‘love-making’ classes in Pattaya | Tourists chastised over climbing photos in Ayutthaya | Makha Buscha this Thursday – Public holiday.

  • THAIGER TODAY Monday, February 26 | Thaiger

    THAIGER TODAY Monday, February 26

    59% of those polled don’t want a political party with Prayut as leader | Repairs to Phuket Airport runway | More carnage on Patong Hill | Poorly planned ATM snatch it Krabi | January’s numbers for new cars and tourism | Toon hands over the cash – 1.3 billion baht | Police raid Russian sex classes in Pattaya.

  • Better driving license procedures for foreigners on the way | Thaiger

    Better driving license procedures for foreigners on the way

    The Department of Land Transport has partnered with British Embassy Bangkok to improve driving licence procedures for foreign nationals across Thailand. The improvements will focus on guidelines for obtaining a licence, how to prepare for the driving test, raising awareness of specific risks on the road unique to Thailand, and recaps on internationally recognised driving standards. Deputy director general of…

  • Making Phuket a special administrative region | Thaiger

    Making Phuket a special administrative region

    Business enterprises in Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga have put a proposal to the Tourism and Sports Ministry to make Phuket a special administrative region. Phuket authorities and the heads of tourism-related organisations gathered at the Beyond Resort Kata. The meeting was to address the administrative problems and obstacles that affect the tourism in the region whilst it continues to…

  • THAIGER TODAY Monday, February 19 | Thaiger

    THAIGER TODAY Monday, February 19

    Airport has 200,000 passengers in one day | Bikie gang member locked out of Australia after visit to Pattaya | German and Thai held over under-age prostitution | Popular farang YouTuber dies | Phuket’s Ao Po Grand Marina gets dragged into Premchai investigation | Four soldiers injured in explosion in Narathiwat | 7/11 looking to introduce ‘Seven Bank’ banking in…

  • Senior DSI official faces probe over alleged rape, extortion | Thaiger

    Senior DSI official faces probe over alleged rape, extortion

    A disciplinary investigation is to begin next week into claims that a Department of Special Investigations official took a video of him raping a 38 year old Pattaya businesswoman at gunpoint in May 2015 and then used the tape to blackmail and extort 2 million baht from the woman. Justice Ministry deputy permanent secretary Thawatchai Thaikhiew said yesterday that the…

  • THAIGER TODAY Thursday, February 15 | Thaiger

    THAIGER TODAY Thursday, February 15

    ‘Heavy traffic is causing pollution in BKK’ – Genius! | Thaksin and Yingluck now in HK | Witness of Australian ‘manslaughter’ in Pattaya speaks up | Changes to the collection of immigration data | UK Foreign Secretary jokes about Thailand’s sex tourism | Thailand mums are wanting smaller families | Encoached buildings on Koh Phi Phi being demolished.

  • THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, February 13 | Thaiger

    THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, February 13

    American hands himself into police over Pattaya ‘manslaughter’ | Phuket market bans smoking | UK’s Foreign Secretary visits Thailand | Road death statistics continue to rise | Coal plant protestors go on hunger strike | Greenpeace says stop BKK smog at the source.

  • The best events and activities for expat families in Thailand | Thaiger

    The best events and activities for expat families in Thailand

    by Tabby Farrar Thailand has become one of the world’s favourite destinations for travellers and expats. As well as culture and natural beauty, the nation offers a huge range of family-friendly activities. Below is a calendar of some key family and child-orientated events, followed by some all-year-round activities. JANUARY What: National Children’s Day – Wan Dek Where: National When: Second…

  • Boat Lagoon Yachting announces mega shipment of private yachts | Thaiger

    Boat Lagoon Yachting announces mega shipment of private yachts

    Boat Lagoon Yachting, Thailand’s largest importer and distributor of luxury yachts, has made history in the region’s yachting industry with the importation of the largest single shipment of luxury yachts, worth over 1,400 million baht. The shipment comprises nine luxury yachts manufactured in the UK by Princess Yachts, with sizes ranging from 19 metres to a superyacht of over 30…

  • From ping-pongs to the real-deal. The evolution of sex-shows in Bangla Road. | Thaiger

    From ping-pongs to the real-deal. The evolution of sex-shows in Bangla Road.

    PLEASE NOTE: This article contains material that may offend some readers. Thailand, despite it’s many natural wonders, superb street cuisine, vibrant culture and (mostly) warm weather, still has a reputation well-earned. Let’s call it the three Ps – Patpong, Pattaya and Patong. Whereas, say ten years ago, you could visit a few go go bars, see an occasional ping pong…

  • Bangsaray. Idyllic beaches, tropical retreat. But where is it? | Thaiger

    Bangsaray. Idyllic beaches, tropical retreat. But where is it?

    Ever heard of Bangsaray? It’s about 20 kilometres south of ‘Sin City’, Pattaya, and, so far has seemed to retain much of its charm. Remember Pattaya wasn’t much more than a haphazard fishing village 40 years ago (it might be argued that it’s not a fishing village any more but still haphazard). 20 kilometres appears to make a large difference…

  • WEDNESDAY MORNING HEADLINES – All your news in 3 minutes | Thaiger

    WEDNESDAY MORNING HEADLINES – All your news in 3 minutes

    A lot of stories making up our news feeds today, from all over Thailand. Let’s ignore the threat of a 100% chance of rain from the forecast and focus on the sunshine in between. Here are today’s main news stories… Minimum wage rise, but… Debate over a rise in the minimum wage is heating up, with a key battleground opening…

  • THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, January 9 | Thaiger

    THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, January 9

    Over 7,000 drones registered so far | Taxi industry getting new ‘Taxi OK’ App | Suspects arrested over bus torching in South last month | No plans as yet for HM King’s coronation | Restaurants holding out along Layan Beach | Brit arrested in Pattaya over women falling from balcony | Latest in the Bang Tao beach ‘private beach’ affair.

  • TUESDAY MORNING HEADLINES – All your local news in 3 minutes | Thaiger

    TUESDAY MORNING HEADLINES – All your local news in 3 minutes

    Hang on.. “100% rain predicted Wednesday and Thursday”. Isn’t this meant to be the dry-season, the high-season, the blue-sky season? Despite the dramatic forecasts we still seem to be getting plenty of sunshine. Here’s today’s main new stories… Bus torching leads to arrests More arrests are anticipated over the torching of a Bangkok-bound bus in southern Yala province last month thanks…

  • FRIDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes | Thaiger

    FRIDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    Final day of the week and a lead into your standard, normal, hopefully quiet, weekend. Weather seems to be staying cloudy but the threatened rain has mostly held off this week. It may not be bright blue sunny skies but it’s still a great place to live! What’s happening around Thailand and Phuket today? Seven Dangerous Days – final reports…

  • THAIGER TODAY Friday, December 22 | Thaiger

    THAIGER TODAY Friday, December 22

    Prayut pushes ahead with high-speed train project | Bangkok police start a 100% helmet campaign | Laypang Beach 70% cleared | Thai tour guides protest against illegal guides, again | Pattaya tiger zoo under fire for ‘poking’ video | Less than 200 Km to go for Toon | Missing Koh Lanta boat found.

  • FRIDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes | Thaiger

    FRIDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    Friday. Only three more sleeps until Christmas. But we’ll be posting the latest news from around Phuket and Thailand right through the ‘silly season’. We urge you to take extra care on the roads in the traditional ‘seven dangerous days’. If you do head out to celebrate, catch a taxi or get someone sober to take you home. We want…

  • Tiger-poking at a Pattaya Zoo sparks social media outrage | Thaiger

    Tiger-poking at a Pattaya Zoo sparks social media outrage

    A Thai zoo in Pattaya is sparking outrage after a video of staff repeatedly prodding a tiger to elicit roars for tourist photos went viral, renewing criticism of Thailand’s notorious animal tourism industry. https://www.facebook.com/edwin.wiek/videos/10154902077257443/ Video by Edwin Wiek, the founder of Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand The clip, which has garnered more than one million views since it was posted on…

  • Vietjet kicks offs new direct route, Phuket – Ho Chi Minh City | Thaiger

    Vietjet kicks offs new direct route, Phuket – Ho Chi Minh City

    At Phuket International Airport yesterday (December 15), Phuket authorities hosted the welcoming ceremony of a new direct flight, Phuket – Ho Chi Minh City by Vietjet Air. The flight VJ 809 was the first ever flying the route. Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Phuket Office, Kanokkrittika Kritwuttikorn, says that Vietnam is an excellent potential market. There are more…

  • WEDNESDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes | Thaiger

    WEDNESDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    PHOTO: That’s a LOT of cash to take over the border. Mum & Dad have a currency exchange business. Really?! Welcome to Wednesday. Here’s our daily 3 minute news read to bring you up to date with some of the major local news stories…. Taking a bit of cash over the border. 89 million baht! Customs officials have discovered more than…

  • Australian and Thai arrested over alleged smuggling of huge batch of crystal meth | Thaiger

    Australian and Thai arrested over alleged smuggling of huge batch of crystal meth

    Police have arrested an Australian man – believed to be a member of the Hells Angels gang in Pattaya – and his Thai female accomplice over an alleged attempt to smuggle a large batch of crystal methamphetamine into Thailand. Assets worth 30 million baht have been seized from the couple, senior police told a press conference in Bangkok on Tuesday.…

  • There’s room for three boat shows in Thailand, but not like it is now… | Thaiger

    There’s room for three boat shows in Thailand, but not like it is now…

    PHOTO: Marine Scene Asia Opinion by Paul Poole An article in the Phuket Gazette on 30 November 2017 welcomed the annual boat show season in Thailand. It raises the question, “is there room for three boat shows each year?” Original story HERE. The question is worth considering as boat show season kicks off for 2017/2018, with a steady stream of…

  • TUESDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes | Thaiger

    TUESDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes

    Welcome to your Tuesday in Phuket. Another excellent day on the way with only a 10% chance of rain later on. The forecast says ‘Mostly sunny’. Back to work and school following your day off (if you were lucky enough to have a long weekend). Here’s today’s main headlines… Change.org calls for General Prawit to step down An online campaign…

  • Positive drug test – awaiting confirmation of epilepsy claim | Thaiger

    Positive drug test – awaiting confirmation of epilepsy claim

    A man who claims he suffered an epileptic seizure that caused him to lose control of his car and kill two people and injure 15 others in Pattaya on Monday, was under the influence of drugs at the time, police said yesterday. 44 year old Akkaradej Udomrat will face an additional charge of driving while under the influence after police…

  • THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, December 5 | Thaiger

    THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, December 5

    THAIGER TODAY. Tuesday, December 5. Tragic Pattaya road accidents prompts questions | Songkhla schools closed because of flooding | Wang Kee Aon waterfall re-opens in Patong | Fake bomb causes security alert at Myanmar Embassy | Toon meets the PM.

  • Pattaya driver that killed two claims epileptic fit – call for ban on epileptic drivers | Thaiger

    Pattaya driver that killed two claims epileptic fit – call for ban on epileptic drivers

    A tragic accident yesterday morning in Pattaya is again focussing the public’s attention on a call for the Land Transport Department to ban people with epilepsy from driving. The crash occurred when a 44 year old self-described epileptic patient lost control of his pickup truck in Chon Buri’s Pattaya City, causing it to plough into 10 motorcycles, killing two people…

  • Thailand’s Boat Show Season is Here | Thaiger

    Thailand’s Boat Show Season is Here

    By Duncan Worthington For a country that has such stunning cruising grounds as Thailand, it’s no surprise there are boat shows to support and promote the marine industry, however, three boat shows within 13 weeks is a bit of a stretch. Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show kicked off the season and was held November 23 – 26 at Ocean Maria…

  • Police roles could be moved to other Government departments | Thaiger

    Police roles could be moved to other Government departments

    The police force is looking to transfer many of its current key missions to other agencies if the reform plan approved by the National Reform Committee on Judicial Affairs goes ahead. The regulation of traffic flow and enforcement of traffic laws, for example, will be handed over to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the Pattaya City Administration and some 30…

  • THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, November 21 | Thaiger

    THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, November 21

    Stabbings in Thalang and Phuket Town | US 7th Fleet Admiral and Thai PM attend Sail Past in Pattaya | 20 escape from Songkhla detention | ‘Spotlight Phuket’ dumps the dirt on Patong corruption | MRT Blue Line in BKK ditches passenger seats.