Pattaya is a popular resort city in Thailand, located on the North Gulf Coast of Eastern of Thailand, 150 km south-east of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung in the province of Chon Buri. In the Western conception Pattaya is most famous for its go-go and beer bars but besides the women on offer, the place has recently upgraded itself to be one of the best family locations in Thailand. Pattaya offers visitors its big, wide beaches, water sports, sightseeing, modern shopping malls, a wide variety of hotels and resorts and international dining experiences together with a raucous and naughty nightlife scene that’s famous around the world.
Photo: reihime
Even though Pattaya hasn’t completely lost its ‘seedy’ side, it now attracts a huge amount of local Thai, North Asian and South Asian tourists who are just there with their families for a fun time. The local authorities-in-charge have, over the past few years, certainly improved the quality of the beaches but some of them are still lackluster and rampant over-development has long since destroyed some of the natural charms it once had, but its plethora of hotels and guest houses and convenient location with quick and easy access from the capital make it a popular weekend getaway. Catering for over 5 million tourists yearly, Pattaya is also able to offer an excellent range of eating choices and a wide variety of things to do and see. and its population is a colorful potpourri of mixed nationalities from near and far.
The city of Pattaya is a self governing special municipal area which covers the whole tambon Nong Prue and Na Kluea and parts of Huai Yai and Nong Pla Lai. It is located in the heavily industrial Eastern Seaboard zone, along with Si Racha, Laem Chabang, and Chon Buri. However, it remains mostly a tourist city, with very light industry.
Pattaya is second only to Bangkok in high rise buildings, as many condos for foreign residents are built, and has a modest skyline. The city’s economy benefits from its relative proximity to Bangkok.
Pattaya is also the center of the Pattaya-Chonburi Metropolitan Area, the conurbation in Chonburi Province.
The History
Pattaya was simply a small fishing village until it was discovered as a beach resort by Bangkok residents in the 1960s. Soon thereafter, servicemen from all over Southeast Asia, including the United States Air Force base at U-Tapao in neighbouring Rayong province began using the area for “rest and recreation” (R&R), causing a huge boom in prostitution. When the Americans left following the end of the Vietnam War, the city fell into a crisis. However, modern mass tourism, particularly single men looking for companionship, brought a new lease of life to Pattaya.
Photo: wikimedia.org
The rapid growth of tourism brought about many negative consequences, such as pollution and petty crime. In 1976, the Pattaya City Act was passed by the Thai legislature, making Pattaya a self-administrating municipality governed by a Council-manager government. However, many argue that this administration system has drawbacks. Critics have recommended abolishing the system.
In recent years the city has pushed hard to clean up its image, and family-focused entertainment is increasingly available; however, the core sex-industry has ensured that Pattaya retains its position as one of the world’s most renowned party destinations. In 2005, more than 35,000 hotel rooms were available in Pattaya and it has seen a large increase in family tourism in recent years, thanks to efforts to present a more wholesome image. Despite these efforts, Pattaya’s sex industry is the city’s raison d’être. Pattaya is an especially popular vacation destination for families from Russia, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. Pattaya also has a large international expatriate population, especially British and Russian residents.