Pattaya, 10 years from now

[Gawd Elpus 798]

I have been reading lately that Pattaya is becoming a "ghost town" at the moment, or as "dead as a Dodo" on several Pattaya forums Perhaps an exaggeration, perhaps not, but it was the quietest I have ever seen the place, when I visited a couple of months ago. Is this a temporary glitch, or the shape of things to come? Is it to do with external forces, or perhaps the nature of Pattaya itself or perhaps both ? Will it change once fresh elections take place, and Military rule lifted?

 

What do you think Pattaya will be like in 10 years time ? Will it remain as it is ? Will it become a different type of tourist destination ? Will there be as many bars and entertainment venues ? Will there still be plenty of girls available for sex tourism ? Will Westerners and Thais continue to buy property ? Will there still be as many ex-pats ? Will it still be a relatively cheap tourist destination? Will places like AC, .become more popular for mongers ? could it ever become a Gambling destination ??etc etc etc I am sure that the change will be gradual, but perhaps inevitable

 

What are your views, gazing into a crystal ball ?

Edited July 16, 2015 by Gawd Elpus

[Gary 4,119]

I would guess that the moral politicians and police will drive our way of life underground. Most of the bars by then will have been closed. Tourist numbers at least for Pattaya will be drastically cut and the moral types will be encouraging family visits. With crappy Pattaya area beaches, tourists will find nicer places. The Pattaya we know will eventually only exist in our memories.

[Billions 687]

Will be very interesting when The Big Man leaves the building,there won't be much partying in Party Town for many a month,and what will be left when the music starts again?

[Gawd Elpus 798]

Will be very interesting when The Big Man leaves the building,there won't be much partying in Party Town for many a month,and what will be left when the music starts again?

That will definitely be within the next 10 years, if not a lot sooner

[Butch 3,456]

Years ago I made a few predictions about Pattaya,one of which was the change in the type of tourists arriving, the "Ibiza" crowd of young guys , reflected in the influx of nightclubs like Insomnia etc in town. It came to fruition and then that demographic of tourists changed again to Russian, which has changed again to more Indians than before and Chinese tour groups. I was totally wide of the mark with a few of my predictions though, so I'm just speculating here.

 

I would say also that the "entertainment zone" which was mooted by others at the time has, in a way, come to fruition. LK Metro and the area around it has developed, but not in the way which was predicted. People were saying at the time that WS was going to be demolished on one side and the whole scene would move. Well, in a way it has, the scene for Expats has shifted across there I suppose. The biggest shock of all which nobody really saw was the total demise of Pattayaland 2, 1 and that area.

 

However, in 10 years I think in a physical sense Patts will have reached saturation point regarding Hotels. The currently undeveloped areas of the higher end Sois (1, 2 and 3) will have been built up, the "safe swimming area" expanded to the whole beach and City Hall will have finally cleaned and sorted the drainage issue out. Traffic and pavements will be fine on Beach Road, but second road and beyond will still be a mess. Getting to WS on any given evening, especially weekends will be a nightmare. We will see the emergence of high end restaurants on Beach Road, with views over the ocean catering to more affluent tourists.

 

WS will maybe remain an entertainment area, perhaps a couple of GGB's and Beer bars for the curious, but perhaps more high end bars for couples rather than mongers. Maybe, unless there has been some drastic changes, the "laundry shops" (GGB's ) will still be operating, it's hard to say.

 

The party scene will have almost certainly moved toward LK, Diana, Bukhao and Chaiyapoon. LK will have more investment, rents will increase exponentially and push most out, the whole area stretching along Bukhao will become a gauntlet for the monger of traffic, people and bars.

 

As the RP slowly gets its act together more might head to AC , but I honestly think that Cambodia will be the mongers choice. I expect we'll even start seeing direct flights to PP, better hotels, better bars and a less hateful attitude towards farangs from the locals to what we're used to from the Thais. Some in the Philippines realise that tourism brings in serious money, and like LOS, Sex tourism also brings in some serious money. We've already seen the relaxing of some rules in the RP regarding foreign land ownership, bank accounts and residency Visas. I'd bank on the Philippines becoming a more viable and safer option than LOS in the next 10 years, but not a replacement. Cambodia I think will become the replacement, depending upon how things pan out in LOS after the event mentioned above.

 

Anyway,I'm probably totally and utterly wrong! all I hope in that 10 years time we're all still here, enjoying our health and still in touch guys!

 

Cheers

Butch

[cbrib 354]

Waiting for my crystal ball to respond.

[misteregg 709]

It will be bigger and better than ever.

[js007 795]

Ten years goes by pretty fast. or so it seems. My guess is that not much will have changed. A few new hotels, perhaps. Some older structures demolished. Fewer Western tourists. Better transportation options. That's about it.

[jacko 8,822]

They might have opened the tunnel and added another one at the Tai junction, you will be able to whiz past Pattaya and go to Bang Saray or Ban Chang instead.

 

A lot of questions in the OP......

 

Will it remain as it is ? Absolutely not, it has changed a lot in the last decade why should the future one be different.

Will it become a different type of tourist destination. Yes, more emphasis on family destination, naughty boy entertainment available but less in your face.

Will there be as many bars and entertainment venues ? Fewer bars, more family and good-boy venues!

Will there still be plenty of girls available for sex tourism. I believe so, where there is demand supply will follow, but I think the 'authorities' will put the squeeze on reducing it.

Will Westerners and Thais continue to buy property ? Yes I expect so, the frenzy will calm but the market will still be there.

Will there still be as many ex-pats. If the rules do not change I expect there will be more... but more other nationalities.

Will it still be a relatively cheap tourist destination? Compared to where? I think it will be cheaper than many up-market places, but I still expect prices to rise further. But they can only go so far with the current pathetic infrastructure and 3rd world look.

Will places like AC, .become more popular for mongers ? I don't think so, the Philippines is a backwards failed state. I do not feel any desire to visit, I am sure others feel similarly.

Could it ever become a Gambling destination. Hard question, if opened up it might be given a go, I just don't think they can catch up with places like Singapore and Macau.

.

As you say and obviously that statement answers most of the questions, change is inevitable, nowhere stands still. We have a progressive Mayor.

We have greedy snouts keen to be better fed.

Thai people themselves are changing, the place will too.

Edited July 17, 2015 by jacko

[ZARIS 20]

Good luck predicting 10 years into the future , but its fun to try.

 

One way to approach it is trends. Where was pattya in 1995, where in 2005 and to now.

 

What are the strongest trends over that period. What trends started, had a run but petered out?

 

The strong trends are the ones most likely- but not certain to continue.

 

Russians- strong trend but now reducing- rouble issues, putin issues

 

Chinese tour groups-still around in 2025?

 

Beer bars- how do they survive anyway?

 

The Euro related countries- beginning of the end?

 

Technology changes- who knows?

 

etc etc