With what many consider the worst low season in more than a decade coming to a close, the question on the lips of more and more Pattaya business owners is “will there even be a high season?”
The expectation that the winter months would see the return of tourists to Fun Town was a encouraging light at the end of this summer’s long, dark tunnel for owners of many tourist-dependent companies. So they did what they had to do to stay afloat during the past five months, betting that their fortunes would improve in November.
The odds on that bet seemed to improve as oil prices began dropping in late August, leading airlines to lower fuel surcharges. But hopes began to fade anew after an anti-government group took over Bangkok’s Government House, the U.S. financial sector went into meltdown and local and national government officials started talking about bar and alcohol crackdowns.
Events Conspiring Against Family Tourism
With worldwide consumer confidence plummeting, the baht surging, more news stories blackening Pattaya’s image again, government officials considering banning alcohol sales during holidays and no end in sight to the People’s Alliance for Democracy protests, people across Pattaya are now predicting the city could be in for its worst-ever high season.
“You’re still going get the sex tourists, the ones who come here no matter what. But I think we’re going to lose almost all the family tourists,” said the owner of a large Pattaya sports-activity company. “It’s going to be like the old days, with a bunch of old guys in the bars and not much else.”
Bar owners, of course, would like that just fine, but they’re skeptical even the mongers will appear in adequate numbers. “The guys who come here four, six times a year are still going to come. But the guys who take that one big Christmas or New Year holiday in Thailand simply may pass this year,” said the long-time owner of a big Walking Street go-go.
The U.S. financial crisis and its ripple effects across the globe are the main reasons for the latest concerns. With markets in crisis and economies on the brink of recession, many people stimply don’t want to spend money, especially on overseas travel. It’s an ominous sign when even the Tourism Authority of Thailand starts sounding warning bells months before high season starts.
In early September, the head of TAT’s Pattaya bureau said that the PAD’s protests were largely responsible for a 30% year-on-year drop in summer tourism and, worse still, that high season will see a “significant drop” even if the Bangkok protests end before the season officially begins Nov. 1.
The Pattaya Today newspaper reported Friday that “a group of British travel agents said that the main reason why their customers were staying away from Pattaya and other Thai beach resorts was the danger that violence in street demonstrations could escalate.”
“There’s just no way of knowing and that’s the key concern,” one was quoted as saying.
Bad Press Threatens Tourism
Pattaya city officials are clearly in panic mode, both by the huge downturn in numbers and by a rash of new media reports that have dealt the city another black eye.
Worldwide media outlets picked up Saturday’s story about an American tourist who was badly beaten by a farang beer bar owner just off Walking Street for refusing to pay 170 baht for a bottle of beer. This follows another Walking Street attack on an Iranian tourist three days earlier by a Thai man took a plank of wood to the head of victim, whom he had mistaken for another Iranian he’d earlier had a problem with.
But what really sent the city into panic were several European reports claiming that a third of the nearly 1 million citizens in the greater Pattaya area are involved in “selling sex.”
At an emergency meeting called Friday, new Pattaya Mayor Itthipol Khunpluem said the reports published by several Belgian media outlets would damage tourism to Pattaya “unless counteractive measures were not taken immediately,” according to the Pattaya Daily News.
If taken seriously, those measures could result in noticeable changes to those frequenting the city’s naughty nightlife areas.
Mr. Wattana Juntanawaranon, Pattaya Deputy Mayor, said Pattaya, itself, has to clean up its image by encouraging all bars and entertainment venues to have stricter rules for the girls, and discourage them from dressing provocatively, or actively soliciting custom.
Mr. Ittipol also said the city also needs the co-operation of the Pattaya and Banglamung Police to accompany the officials to check up on the bars. If there were any bars or venues that were not co-operating in this initiative, their licenses would be revoked as this was a serious matter.
That, to many, sounds like a potential bar crackdown, just about the last thing Pattaya bar owners want to see. But, in fact, there’s potentially worse news on the horizon: a ban on alcohol sales during holidays.
Dry Holidays?
Public Health Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung this week announced a proposal to halt any alcohol sales on public and religious holidays, including New Year’s, Songkran and Loy Krathong.
The plan, quickly endorsed by Thailand’s Alcohol Watch Network and its allies, could be implemented before New Year’s Day, depending upon the results of a public opinion survey the ministry will commission, The Nation newspaper reported.
He said a survey conducted some time ago revealed 67 per cent of people agreed with the idea to ban alcohol sales on religious holidays, Songkran and the New Year period.
Chalerm plans to commission the Suan Dusit Rajabhat University to conduct the survey this time.
Asked about pressure from liquor companies, Chalerm said he had no worry about this. “I think they will agree to cooperate,” the public health minister said.
Criticism came fast and furious, both offline and on:
“This guy is obviously a danger to himself and … society, ” respected Thai policy blog Thailand Crisis wrote of Chalerm. “We all know that there is a serious alcohol problem in Thailand. But a ban on sale doesn’t solve the issue. It’s like to say: “you cannot kill yourself on New Year’s Eve, but the day before is OK. You can drink to death and then slam your car into a pickup. Go in peace. It’s meaningless.”
Whether all this comes to pass and crushes the high season is still to be seen. Not all the signs are pointing south yet. Ed, co-owner of the Heaven Above go-go and Galaxy Suites hotel, said bookings at Galaxy in October and November are strong. And the same Pattaya Today article mentioned above also quotes unnamed European and Australian airlines as saying bookings over Christmas and New Year’s are “at a similar level to last year” and that “some five star Pattaya hotels report that bookings are starting to recover from recent doldrums.”
“Tourists are sensible people,” one unnamed marketing director told Pattaya Today. “They understand Thai politics are a difficult subject. But what kills tourism are pictures of violence on the TV. That would be a complete no-no scenario for us.”
Nightlife Nuggets
- The Popcorn go-go on Soi Pattayaland 2 has closed. The bar, operated previously as “All Girls,” closed its doors Friday and is now for sale for 1 million baht.
- Far East Rock on Soi Post Office has become a daytime-only bar, now closing at 7 p.m.
- Las Vegas, the reinvented 77 Club, opened this week on Soi Yamoto. Initial reviews were only slightly better than the dismal reports 77 had gotten.
- Party Bar, the best-looking beer bar you’ll likely ever visit on Soi 8, is also the most expensive. It’s up for sale for 5.5 million baht.
- Poppy Bar on the corner of Beach Road and Soi 7 has become Lovely Corner, complete with live band. Meanwhile, another “girls behind glass” bar called Jenny Bar - not to be confused with Jenny’s Star Bar - has opened on Soi 8.
- On troubled Soi LK Metro, Lloydie’s Bar and Storm’s Bar have reportedly been sold and the Blue Moon pub/guesthouse put on the market.
- After a trio demolishing of beer bars on the corner of Soi 3 and Second Road were demolished earlier this year, it was expected no new bars would replace them. Expectations were wrong. Reportedly the new four-story building will house beer bars, a new go-go bar and a McDonalds.
- More on these and other nightlife news items can be found here in The Ghost’s latest Bar Crawl column.
“Reportedly the new four-story building will house beer bars, a new go-go bar and a McDonalds.”
Ha! Only in Pattaya. Classic.
View all comments by pmmp
AGREED, that the Thai government stumbles from one inane decision to the next and that Pattaya politicos only open their mouths to change feet.
Also, the city has become a magnet for scum from all over the world, and the Thai people providing service reflect their constant exposure to the least of human life form.
As well, the world economy, financial system and stock markets are in a deep downward spin.
That being said, where else can the whore mongers go? As long as there are guys desperate for a cheap lay, will there not be a Pattaya?
View all comments by Professor
Cambodia & The Philippines come to mind…
View all comments by Pattaya Ghost
People know Pattaya as a monger destination or they don’t know it at all. I mean, if you ask to someone who never came to Thailand what he knows, he will probably name Bangkok, Phuket, Phiphi… But who would name Pattaya???
View all comments by SukPsycho
Thanks for another great report, Ghost.
The mongers will arrive (or stay, or overstay) no matter what–the only thing that stops them is one of three “liquidity crises”:
1) Their cash runs out.
2) Their liver shuts down.
3) They win the gold in the Pattaya High Jump, i.e. a plunge from a tall building, which naturally results in a pool of liquid.
But a lot of the “family tourism” comes from Asian countries, often on package-tours. This sector is especially vulnerable to news reports of violence and/or unrest, and given the ongoing financial volatility, luxuries like overseas holidays are likely to be curtailed. The extent is still unclear, but just for example: there have been ongoing protests in Hong Kong over a well known local bank offering Lehman Brothers-backed “minibonds” which of course are now worth…I dunno. While the number of people affected is unknown (most who’ve appeared in the media wear sunglasses and surgical masks to hide their identities), some people are in for six or seven figures, and for those and others who are feeling the bite, discretionary spending on holidays in Thailand isn’t going to an option for awhile.
JtB
View all comments by Jack B
“the reports published by several Belgian media outlets would damage tourism to Pattaya ”
There is a Belgian made TV show currently being shown on the “ethnic ” channel (SBS) here in Australia called Matrioski 2 - thai sex trade (first series was Russian sex dolls !).
I don’t think any newspaper stories could be worse for Pattaya’s image than this show - girls bought in the village for 3000 baht, families threatened when they ran away from the bar, forced to go with any customer, handcuffed to a bed in a short time hotel which burns down killing the girl …. and that is just the first few episodes
View all comments by Mike
The serie Matrioski 2 starts on a Belgian TV-channel this week.
Hence the bad publicity.
View all comments by hanuman
pg - i think this is not only a pattaya worry but a thailand worry. thailand should be doing everything they can to spure tourism and the economy. In theory they are doing the exact opposite.
the baht is surging? Not against the dollar. it is back over 34 to the USD. Maybe the pound is the comparison but the pound is falling across the board.
I think the dollar may push to 35 soon.
View all comments by sideshowBOB
Just off the subject, I just wan’t to thank the ghost for all the information, I have just returned home after 2weeks in pattaya and 2 in bangkok, Yes I payed a visit to the g club very nice place the ladys dress very well and are nice on the eyes no stunners but no unglys A Big night out in pattaya with fltg meal,drinks,disco and lt in my room 2300 baht in bangkok a simalar night just over 6,000. I say sorry to all poor buggers who have to live there, but here in the land down under its 8,000 baht for an half hour. see you next trip
View all comments by dave thomas
Dollar’s rise has stopped over past week due to the financial mess. Today it’s at 33.09
View all comments by Pattaya Ghost
@PG
All of the red light districts of Cambodia and the PI would fit into Pattaya and there would be plenty of room left over.
While I enjoy the PI (I was on that same cancelled Cebu Pacific flight as you this spring) and it makes a nice break from here, all Of AC bars could be fitted into a couple of Pattaya sois. AC is like the country fair - Pattaya is Disney World for paid sex. While AC is pretty well purely heterosexual, Pattaya is omni sexual. The fudgepackers are not going to AC or Cambo, and most of the Pattaya custom want it bare ass and raunchy.
View all comments by Professor
pg
not sure where u are pulling those numbers - don’t watch the exchange booths
http://finance.google.com/finance?q=USDTHB
http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi?From=USD&To=THB&Amount=1
View all comments by sideshowBOB
hmmm. no high season. now we’re talking.
i’m not smart enough to be an economist but u gotta figure crashing home prices, bank failures (= job losses), stupendous stock loses and doubled air fares will keep a lot of europe and australia at home.
and is this such a bad thing i selfishly ask?
can we all agree that this should translate into a one-third drop in ST rates, chai mai?
View all comments by jack dawson
ssB — Bangkok Bank. And, since the exchange booths are what tourists use, that’s my barometer. But, yes, I will conceded the USD has done alright. But the majority of visitors to Pattya are from the UK (59 to the pound now) and the EU (47.10 Euro now). Yanks make up a small proportion of visitors relatively.
View all comments by Pattaya Ghost
Matrioshki 2 trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt3C_mN_Wyc&feature=related
View all comments by Paraquat
jd - possibly but if everything is down I am not sure it is such a great thing all the way around.
pg - I guess my point was - this is not the strength of the baht. This is the euro and the pound finally catching what america has, the dollar is actually the safest bet right now - hence the climb against the baht even though the US is not doing well. Keep in mind the exchange booths and the local banks post a modified number to make things look a little better than they really are.
View all comments by sideshowBOB
I can’t actually beleive no one has said anything about that first photo. Cracks me up every time I look at it.
View all comments by Pattaya Ghost
pg - it looks so normal for pattaya
I get so disgusted by the shriveled up old dudes in their banana hammocks and red bodies strolling beach road. I block it now.
View all comments by sideshowBOB
Im a silent member on a particular Pattaya forum (well i am now, as i somehow got myself banned for FLAMING whatever that is. Seems that people dont take too kindly to me commenting on their trip reports, amongst the ’shes a babe’ comments, that the ‘teelak’ they hired for the week is a buck-toothed swamp-dog), and its just full of tattoo’d bin-men from huddersfield/the wirral, bitching about how expensive it is now and how they have to stay home this Xmas. Oh well. Not my problem. If you worked harder at school you wouldnt have that problem would you?
Low season in Pattaya in immense. I spent 4 days in Patts for my 24th birthday this July and it was void of customers. Crippling for the bar owners im sure, but im not a barowner. So many cock/baht hungry girls it was unreal
Long may the low season continue
View all comments by Young Penfold
If you want to see what is really going to ruin tourism, take a look at these pictures.
Professional scammers working over lost tourists…in view of the TAT Information Booths.
I have 93 pictures posted of the Silom area Tourist Mafia.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29324583@N05/
Erawan Shrine Tourist Mafia.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21533131@N06/
Notice the scammers are organized and operate in view of the Police Boxes and Security Guards.
These people are wrecking Thailand reputation.
There are thousands of them around town.
View all comments by ATM
atm - sure they are an issue but I don’t think it is the entire issue. I would say airport closures, states of emergencies, strong baht, and no drinking probably do way more harm than scams that sensible people could easily avoid.
Just add it to the list I guess…
View all comments by sideshowBOB
I’d say nothing scares of tourists more then seeing thousands of protesting thai’s taking over an airport (albeit for a few days) on tv and then having your government alter the travel advisory system/website telling you not to go if you don’t need to.
View all comments by Tark