Developers rush in to change Pattaya

By Laurie Osborne, Editor

Published 26th Sep 2006, (a Tuesday) at 10:30AM

http://www.in2perspective.com/nr/2006/0 ... attaya.jsp

With Thailand's new Suvarnabhumi Airport preparing to open, there has been a rush among high-priced family hotel chains for beachfront property in Pattaya.

To anyone who has been to Pattaya's concrete sprawl, the images of pot-bellied 'sex-pats' are hard to erase. Presently, it could only be collectively harder for families to ignore.

However, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) believes the resort can change its focus from solely being geared towards single male tourists.

"Developers are buying land to develop shopping malls, five-star hotels, and in a few years Pattaya will change its face," Chaiwat Charoensuk, the director of TAT in Pattaya was quoted as saying.
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"We need the families to visit Pattaya, so it is our job to do something to change the image," he added.

Thailand's new airport could lead to a great deal of re-generation in its surrounding area, but it is likely to take many years and many malls before Pattaya becomes a viable family destination.

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