Pattaya, Thailand’s first beach resort, is undergoing a renaissance. With a major public-private sector effort under way to redesign and rebuild the resort into a family, fun, events–driven, and MICE destination, it is now planning a campaign called “Pattaya Amazing Comeback in 2010”.
Located 147 kilometres southeast of Bangkok, Pattaya, is a symbol of the tremendous growth in the Thai tourism industry. Thailand’s first beach resort to attract international visitors, it has grown over the last three decades from a small fishing village into a world famous resort city.
Easily accessible from Bangkok, especially Suvarnabhumi International Airport, by a fast, modern motorway, it boasts a world-class convention centre, a wide range of accommodation options, over 300 restaurants, three large, modern shopping malls, and a broad range of activities from water-sports to go-kart racing.
A wide range of tours feature visits to temples, orchid plantations, elephant camps, cultural shows, a tiger reserve, sapphire mines, waterfalls and offshore islands. Twelve golf courses, including some of the best in Thailand, are all within a short drive from Pattaya.
In 2008, visitor arrivals to Pattaya totalled 5.8 million and generated tourism revenue of 48.6 billion baht.
Here are some details about how Pattaya is reinventing itself.
Family destination: New attractions to cater to this market include bigger and better shopping centres, the Floating Market, the Avenue and Royal Garden Plaza, New Puppet Theatre, New Wax Museum, Yellow Submarine, the Four Regions Floating Market, and the Silver Lake Winery.
Sports & fun destination: Some of Asia’s best polo clubs are located in Pattaya. World-class tennis and golf tournaments include the WTA Tennis at the Dusit Thani Pattaya and the LPGA at the Siam Country Club.
Trendy accommodation: New boutique and chic hotels have come up like the dusitD2 Baraquda Pattaya and Sheraton Resort Pattaya, some of which have won major regional awards for their unique design. Trendy new bars and restaurants include Mantra @ Amari Orchid Pattaya, Deep Bar @ dusitD2, 5 Ice Bar @ Amari Nova Suites, and the Rimpa Lapin Restaurant.
MICE destination: Facilities for major conventions, incentives, and theme parties are constantly being upgraded with many events now actively supported by the Thailand Convention Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). The resort’s primary convention centre remains the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH) at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort.
Environmental Friendly: The beachfront road has been improved and now boasts a completely new look thanks to upgraded landscape, and removal and replacement of the power cables to underground locations. Pattaya also now claims to be the first Wi-Fi access beach resort in Thailand. Visitors can enjoy swimming in properly zoned areas. Water conditions have also improved.
Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Suraphon Svetasreni said, “Pattaya is quickly becoming a fine example of how destinations can learn from past development mistakes and reinvent themselves to cater to the new realities. We are very encouraged by the complete make-over under way in Pattaya, and hope that all our guests and visitors will find it to their liking, too.”
Contact information:
International Public Relations Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.th
Web site: www.tatnews.org |
