Representatives made another annual promise to turn Pattaya into a family resort of the resort city’s tourism industry.
Tour operators in Pattaya once again promised to promote family tourism, local cuisine and Thai martial arts to eliminate the established image of a sex tourism centre. At the same time, Pattaya tourism officials are urging authorities to take care of the growing number of tourists after Thailand allowed travellers from more countries to stay in the kingdom for up to 60 days.
The Chonburi Tourism Federation Association held a tourism seminar among key operators in Pattaya and Chonburi, attended by tour operators from five major foreign countries – Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, China, India, South Korea and Germany.
Association president Thanet Supornsahasrungsi told the Bangkok Post that most tour operators agreed that the image of Pattaya’s nightlife centre remains dominant among foreigners more than any other tourist attraction.
Thanet Supornsahasrungsi said new family-oriented activities should be promoted to keep up with independent tourism trends. The city still has great potential for growth through various attractions, including water parks, world-class golf courses, Muay Thai camps, and local communities widely known for handicrafts.
Chonburi’s local cuisine will be included in the Michelin Thai Guide 2025.
In the past, Pattaya attracted a large number of retired foreigners who frequented nightclubs and were into sex tourism. However, now the average age of tourists is younger and young people are looking for various experiences. For example, Russian tourists are travelling with children, says Thanet.
'Undoubtedly, some tourists still want to experience nightlife, and the authorities should set aside an area for such businesses by zoning adult bars, clubs and motels in one place, as is done on Bangla Road in Phuket,' Thanet said.‘With changing market trends, all businesses in Chonburi, including bars and nightclubs, must adapt to survive.’
Other important issues raised at the meeting included traffic congestion, poor transport and flood prevention.
The government announced this week that it is allowing citizens of 93 countries to visit Thailand without a visa for up to 60 days. Thanet believes the tourism sector should benefit from the measure, pointing to plans for direct charter flights from Kazakhstan to Utapao airport from next month, which were organised after the administration ended the visa waiver programme for that country.
With the visa extension programme about to start soon, the association president said all relevant authorities should be prepared to handle the influx of tourists.
‘Our problem is that not every authority has been integrated,’ Thanet said.
For example, when there are traffic problems in Pattaya, city authorities may refuse to take action, claiming it is the police’s responsibility.
Thanet said that without proper management, the large number of tourists could lead to more accidents or crime. The government should also assess the countries where it receives tourists to see if they risk overstaying their visas or working illegally in Thailand, and immigration rules should be strictly enforced for visitors.
According to a cabinet meeting this week, 36 new countries, including India, China, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Laos, have been added to the visa waiver scheme.
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