Pattaya looks to the bright side
(Bangkok Post dd. 16 februari 2006 // DN)
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** Floodlights make it safer for tourists walking the beach in Jomtien at night.
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North Pattaya.
Beach resort hopes to attract honeymoon couples
Story by YVONNE BOHWONGPRASERT
Pattaya has the potential to cater to all segments of the tourist market, affirmed Chattan Kunjara na Ayudhya at the launch of Ripley’s “Till Death Do US Apart” slogan for love couples wishing to take the vow on Valentine’s Day earlier this week.
Chattan is a director in charge of tourism in the Central Region. He was clearly excited by the response to Ripley’s idea to host mass wedding on the universal day of love and is thinking of turning it into an annual feature in the years to come.
"We know the honeymoon market is big and it can be influential in generating revenue for destinations around the country. For Pattaya itself, I believe it’s a segment worth looking into.
“However, it’s still a new concept for Pattaya which has so far focused on single and family travellers. I don’t think we are going to see many honeymoon couples right away, but it is a sound idea with tremendous potential _ a good start,” he said.
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Can Pattaya become a popular destination for honeymoon couples? Ripley’s concept of a typical couple.
Mass weddings as a mechanism to draw tourists is a relatively new concept that must be explored seriously, he said, although he reiterated Pattaya will continue to promote itself as a beach destination ideal for family vacation.
“It’s simple mathematics. Family travel means three or people travelling together, to say the least. They stay longer and spend more money,” he explained, adding that expatriate retirees constituted another vital segment for an increasing number of them were making Pattaya their new home or came there on long holiday.
This year Pattaya will play host to a series of high-profile international conferences, among them the Pacific Area Travel Association (Pata) annual meeting which should be a big boost for operators in the Mice segment of the tourist market.
Chattan said TAT) has been working with government agencies and local police to make Pattaya safe for tourists. Floodlights were installed in Jomtien last year to ensure tourists walking its beaches at night felt secure, while the problem of water shortage is being dealt with in a systematic manner to ensure taps in Pattaya never run dry.
“People’s safety will always be TAT’s paramount concern. We have good relations with security officers which include Tourist and Immigration police who are more vigilant with the activities of Pattaya’s notorious underworld, and at the same time Thai and expatriate volunteers patrol tourist areas on bicycles at night.”
On the water front, Chattan explained that in the past Pattaya relied on rain to meet the increasing need of its growing population, but the last two years the rainfall has been less than adequate.
As a result certain parts of the city at some time or the other lack tap water. To overcome the shortage, a pipeline is being built to tap water from Bang Pakong River. It should be in place shortly.
Asked to elaborate on rampant crime and prostitution that Pattaya is usually associated with, he said it’s a longstanding that would require time to tackle before it can be wiped out because Pattaya is a truly cosmopolitan city whose residents come from all corners of the globe. That makes it a tad more difficult to deal with the problems.
Chattan said that when a problem can’t be solved then one has to promote good things. Even though the problem hasn’t disappeared, the negative impact will be less severe.
Pattaya has a number of interesting events lined up this year, among them are the Pattaya International Music Festival, March 17-19; Ko Si Chang Songkran Festival, April 17-19; Amazing Thailand Grand Sale in June; Pattaya Marathon on July 16; and the Buffalo Race on October 6.