Pattaya’s changing atmosphere

[Pattaya One]

I’ve been visiting Pattaya for many years, and always had good times, always felt totally relaxed. It wasn’t just the lovely girls and the free-and-easy atmosphere of the nightlife, but also the laid back way of life, and the generally friendly attitude of the locals. But after my first visit for some time I feel that it has changed too much for the worse. Now with so many Russians, also Arabs, Indians etc., the whole atmosphere is different. The new visitors seem to be less friendly towards Thais and other nationalities, and the locals have hardened their attitude too. Please don’t call me a racist—these people should be able to travel wherever they wish, just like me; I only want to say that I think Pattaya has changed atmosphere forever, and I wonder what others think.

Smudge

The times they are a-changin’. In recent years Pattaya has received an ever-increasing volume of its arrivals from newer sources. Expats from the former dominant countries: Britain/Europe, Australasia, USA/Canada, may not like it but, quite naturally, local businesses are making efforts to encourage these new customers to holiday or even live here. Hence the presence of almost as many signs in Russian as in English (people tend to call them Russians, although they come from various countries of the Russian States). There has long been an Arab and Indian presence in Pattaya, but their numbers have also increased. Whether this sea change in clientele will prove to be good or bad for Pattaya, only time will tell.  Perhaps in a few years there will be Russian websites complaining about western tourists ruining Pattaya.

Email Kris & Noi at: [email protected]

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