Plans revived to transform Pattaya

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Plans revived to transform Pattaya 
Bangkok Post: 18 Apr 2009

Hopes of a more pleasing Pattaya
Bangkok Post Apr 18, 2009

Plans are being made to transform the resort city into an orderly, green and clean destination.

Pattaya is set to welcome a comprehensive master plan that promises to transform the resort city into an orderly, green and clean destination.

The first development master plan is being drafted jointly by the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Dasta) and Pattaya City. The plan, expected to be unveiled in about a year from now, is thought to be the answer to Pattaya's numerous problems with coastal erosion, traffic congestion, public safety, overcrowding, deterioration of public infrastructure and hazards to residents' health.

The blueprint will also help sharpen the city's competitiveness in tourism as Pattaya will take a serious look at how it can heighten its appeal.

Pattaya City and eight adjacent tambons have now been declared by the cabinet as a special zone for sustainable tourism under Dasta's direction after the plan was proposed to the cabinet a month ago by Deputy Prime Minister Maj Gen Sanan Khachornprasart, who oversees the country's tourism.

Dasta was created by the Thaksin Shinawatra government in 2003 to ensure balanced tourism development in special areas that were considered valuable and potentially under threat.

Dasta is also designed to manage the impact of tourism as sites expand in the future.

Pattaya City mayor Itthiphol Khunplome thanked the cabinet for endorsing the plan which he said was necessary for the survival of Pattaya City.

"The master plan will help us integrate and allow us to work with other government agencies as we need their help to deal with problems which we don't have the authority to solve on our own," said Mr Itthiphol.

The economic mainstay of Pattaya is tourism and in the past 10 years the number of tourists has jumped sharply from three to eight million.

In the next 10 years, that number could top 12 million. Pattaya has also seen repeat visitors who oil the engines of the local economy.

"I'm confident that locals and businessmen will greatly benefit from the development plan under Dasta as it will help make Pattaya more attractive and livable," said Mr Itthiphol.

He added that the master plan would enable the city to realise its goal of becoming a wireless and sports destination faster.

However, locals and businessmen voiced scepticism the plan may not be practical.

Boonma Fangrak, chairman of Ban Rong Mai Kheed in Pattaya municipality, said he agreed Dasta should lead the way in materialising the plan but there may be obstacles with the local organisations implementing the projects.

Mr Boonma said the key problems centred on tourist safety and local and international crime syndicates using the city as a base to conduct the drugs trade and prostitution.

Drugs breed crime and the targets are none other than the tourists.

"I wonder how Dasta and Pattaya city intend to weed out these problems. Tell me," he said.

He suggested the drafting of the master plan should be a participatory process drawing input from local residents.

Jidapa Thanaattachai, a tourism operator in Pattaya, welcomed the development plan but was worried about how any improvement could be sustained in the long run.

She added the seizures of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports at the end of last year by yellow shirt demonstrators had put a major dent in tourist confidence and many have stayed away from the country subsequently.

Other tourism business owners said that the recent storming of the Asean summit venue by red shirt protesters at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort have dealt a second crippling blow to Pattaya's languishing tourism sector.