Have to say, even as a visitor I didn't miss the Chinese tour buses belching out black smoke etc.
Now that's a key point.
Any Pattaya resident who doesn't like hordes of tourists can move to a quieter town. Plenty of choice.
I suspect the residents choose Pattaya because of all the facilities, but it needs tourists to sustain those facilities.
Getting back to the thread topic: The travel pass is supposed to be ready for people arriving on 1 November. The website is still not open for applications, just 9 days before the pass is needed by anyone arriving on 1 Nov.
Apparently it is supposed to be: www.thailandpass.go.th