Why is Pattaya becoming increasingly attractive to Thai Nationals?

It wasn’t so long ago that if you mentioned that you lived in Pattaya to a Thai, they would not be impressed. We have to be honest, Pattaya hasn’t always had the greatest of reputations and Thai people were certainly aware of this. They would class the city as ‘not part of Thailand’ and a place of debauchery that attracted undesirables. Thankfully, that has all changed in recent times and attitudes are noticeably changing. In fact, it seems that many Thai nationals are actually choosing Pattaya for their vacations.

So why are the Thais starting to warm to Pattaya? One obvious reason is that the city’s image has changed a great deal in the last decade or so. It is now a place that is family friendly something that wasn’t previously the case. The government has tried hard to encourage quality tourists to come to Pattaya and it seems that on the whole, they have been pretty successful. This means that the city isn’t as potentially threatening and is definitely cleaner than in the past.

Another potential reason why Pattaya is becoming more desirable could be that it is becoming more upmarket. Many of the Thais who visit Pattaya come from Bangkok and are reasonably wealthy and use the city as a weekend retreat. The fact that the number of quality condos has increased over the years along with excellent restaurants make Pattaya the obvious destination for many. This when coupled with the fact that those who visit the have changed in terms of their demographics, such as more families, also entices more people to come.

Modern beachfront condos like this one in Pratamnak are very appealing to Thai clients

As we recognise many of the weekend visitors come from Bangkok, the point that the two cities are well linked by highways makes Pattaya a practical place to come. Depending on where you are in Bangkok, it is quite possible to be in Pattaya in around 2 hours. For others coming from further afield, U-Tapao and the Bangkok airports have numerous internal flights which again make Pattaya far more accessible than many of the alternatives. The proximity to Bangkok and frequency of buses also means that it is relatively cost effective too.

Of course, once you are in the city there must be something to do and attract you. When in Pattaya you will have a wide selection of things to do from relaxing at the beach to visiting local attractions and sights. For instance, there is the Sanctuary of Truth or Nong Nooch Botanical Gardens along with an abundance of water sport and other sporting options. Walking Street is now also more welcoming and can appeal to those who are looking for a change of scene when it comes to the nightlife.

3 bedroom for rent in this very popular project right at the new exit of highway extension

All in all, Pattaya has a lot of things going for it. These are things that attract everyone to the city as it constantly changes and evolves. Asian tourists overall make up a huge percentage of those who come compared with around a decade ago when many visitors where single males from the west who looking to make the most of Pattaya’s famous or infamous party scene.