Pattaya city government versus citizens
The Pattaya city council is always trying to "clean up" the city through measures. However, the performance does not always reflect correct insight or agreements. And where citizens ask for action, the municipality declines and does nothing.
For some time now, street vendors have been banned from offering their merchandise in a number of places. One of the points would be the area around Royal Garden Plaza. As early as mid-2016, a major campaign took place to ban street vendors from downtown Pattaya. When the sellers, who were on the grounds of Royal Garden Plaza, had to leave there, according to the municipality, representatives of this shopping center informed the municipality that this was their property. This was not a public, public space and the sellers could stand here. Gritting their teeth, the city council had to give in, but would closely monitor whether this would not be violated on pain of a 2000 Baht fine per day.
Another remarkable fact is that sun lounger and umbrella rental companies on Jomtien Beach must ensure order themselves. Sometimes beggars appear on the beach asking for money from the tourists. When refused, they sometimes become annoying and aggressive. Occasionally it is a small group, which makes the beach less pleasant. Complaints to the legal department of the city administration, Mr. Sretapol Boonsawat, were not heard! The landlords reacted incensed, but did act against us with all kinds of measures and did nothing in the event of disturbances.
When an aggressive beggar woman harassed a bather, the landlords intervened. Annoying when Thai citizens are also confronted with all kinds of measures that directly affect their livelihoods.
Thailand, the land of the small self-employed. They are like flies and there is very little control over them. Wherever they see fit, they place their stalls. Rules, who needs them. Just do it, but if it gets out of hand, they have very long toes. It just depends on how you look at this kind of sprawl.
Many Thai people are enterprising and hard workers. I have to give them credit for that, because I have gained all the necessary experience in the markets. The disadvantage is that they compete with each other in such a way that in the end they don't last and close themselves. Or, and that is common, moving again to another place where they expect that this will offer solace. They also come home from a rude awakening because things keep repeating themselves, largely because no one follows the rules. A vicious circle that needs to be broken. And therein lies the answer to this problem.
For nuisance offenders, you have the police in the first instance to supervise this. These are red-handed situations that require attention and action. That complaint to the city council is a disc too far.