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The beaches are deserted, the go-go bars are empty and the ladyboy cabaret has closed their doors. In the tourist hotspot of Pattaya, nothing is the same after the global travel restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.
In one of the world's most famous – some would say infamous – seaside resorts, the economic devastation is indescribable. Entrepreneurs say they have not seen this in the last 40 years.
“Our organization has stopped everything 100%. Pattaya is a tourist city, we have to live on that. The whole city is now affected by the virus,” said Pawin Phettrakul, director of the Alcazar Cabaret Show. In normal times, the theater - with dancing ladyboys in beautiful costumes - attracts more than a thousand tourists every day, now there are zero. Alcazar Cabaret does not intend to lay off all staff just yet, but the future seems bleak.
Thailand depends on tourism for about 12% of its GDP, but in Pattaya almost the entire economy relies on temporary visitors. The resort town saw more than 2018 million tourists in 15, according to the 2019 Chonburi Provincial Statistical Report, which was already a 20% drop from the previous year.
“I can say that this is the worst thing Pattaya has ever experienced. And in the past two to three weeks, so many companies have gone bankrupt or closed because of the coronavirus,” said Roy Fu Wanlong, a business owner in Pattaya.
The city has been trying to improve its image in recent years and has actually promoted the family-friendly entertainment in the city. Now the ever-vibrant Pattaya has turned into a ghost town.
Video: Pattaya after declaration of emergency
Watch the video here:
https://youtu.be/dwLZbmO41ao
That is what you mean by useful information. Thank you
It is logical that the cityscape will look like this if you close business because of the corona virus.
This can be observed in many places and in many countries. It has a temporary character I hope and is in any case unpleasant for many who see their income disappear and terrible for those who do not survive or remain very ill for life. An important facet in life is the health of humanity. Due to unhygienic behavior of those Chinese, but could also have arisen in Bangkok on a wet market, the world is forgiven with this virus. A disaster whose bill would not disfigure the Chinese. They are and remain responsible for their hygiene and pride themselves on supporting the world, or at least the countries in which they have an interest or think they can have an interest. Nothing is what it seems and the double agenda is thumbs up. Hypocritical behavior. The prospect of becoming a world leader and thereby beating America (USA) beckons on the horizon. As far as health is concerned, moderation and closing the many bars and the sex business is the only bright spot that comes out of it as far as I'm concerned. We can easily do without this and many diseases also arise from it.
Sorry, but totally disagree. There's going to be a lot of collateral damage. Thailand shoots a cannon at a mosquito.
i was going to go to pattaya on march 17 for 4 weeks.
I am glad that a negative travel advice was issued on March 17.
If I had sat there. Then sit at home
The area where Joseph is staying is considerably quieter than from the Pattaya Klang on the coast
Beer Bar.
It is striking that whole groups of people are sitting together without face masks. The last part of the Beach Road is still not finished!
Even the narrow Street Arab was dark and quiet, and that's saying something.
Before things start functioning again in Pattaya, I estimate at the end of May!
How very lucky I made it back just in time from beautiful Thailand
Jacques you definitely want to make a ghost town of pattaya you don't need viruses for that your way.
After all, without all tourism, Pattaya is too dead written hotrels restaurants actually everything goes bankrupt because Pattaya can only exist of many millions of tourists per year.
And without Bars, erotic stuff and the like, there will be a lot less.
Admittedly not everything should be possible just like that, no forcible deposition scam you name it.
All that shouldn't be there. But if you mean a nice city for family holidays then you are wrong.
After all, who goes there with their family of parents with children? a city on vacation no one, right?
People with a family go to resorts, holiday parks, bungalows and so on.
Also in Pattaya you can do many things that do not reflect the grafted bad image that ignorant people form or think they have of Pattaya.
I myself have been there 3 times, the last time was in 2009. I have been following Thailand blog for a long time.
As well as that I know an elderly couple (both almost 80) who go to Pattaya for 3 months every year.
And I really don't think they will because of what you claim. I myself did not go there for your reasons of tourism for those reasons, I'm really not a hypocrite, but I did enjoy looking for a nice Thai girl on one of the first days who would support me throughout my entire vacation. took me everywhere there and even helped me save money on transport, purchases, and actually with all the language barriers because although I speak excellent English, that is not always the best language with the Thai.
As far as the Corona virus is concerned I think it's terrible both there and here it's worthless but there
the disaster for the ordinary population is even greater because they have no benefit system or subsidies there. I wish everyone strength there all Thai and also the expats.
PS that the Chinese are responsible for the late notification of the outbreak has long been established, but which government dares to hold China financially liable now that is the question. a really bad stat to deliver here.
Can you see that they really are not a world power and never will be they are way too sloppy for that.
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Sad face , Pattaya like I've never seen it before.
And nothing, no arrangements for the working fellow man and entrepreneurs!
Will it ever return to what it was until early 2020?…
I wish all people, everywhere, good health!