Pattaya Beach Tourist Guide | History, Activities, Attractions

About Pattaya - From Fishing Village to Funtown

History of Pattaya - Pattaya Activities & Attractions

Pattaya City (or Muang Pattaya as it is known in Thai language) is located in Chonburi province, Banglamung district, approximately 140 kilometers South of the Thai capitol Bangkok at the East coast of the Gulf of Siam and just a 90 minutes drive from Suvarnabhumi Bangkok airport. Thailand's East coast comprises the provinces of Chonburi, Rayong, Chantaburi and Trat and has become one of Thailand's most favourite holiday regions both for domestic and international tourists. Several beach resorts and tropical islands line the coast between Bangkok and Trat province near the Cambodian border in the South. Bang Saen, just South of Chonburi city has become very popular with local tourists from Bangkok who seek an escape from urban pollution on the weekends whereas the exotic islands of Koh Chang and Koh Samet attract both domestic and international tourists alike. Pattaya, which had originally been a sleepy fishing village until the 1950s, has become the most popular and famous tourist destination at Thailand's "riviera" and attracts millions of visitors from all over the world every year.

As of 2008 Pattaya's total population is officially about 100,000 people. But as this figure contains only permanent Thai residents who are registered as citizens of Pattaya city, many Thai people who live and work here, however, originate from other provinces and are not included in these official statistics, the total population is indeed much higher. And if the 10,000s of expats and long-term tourists were added to this figure, Pattaya's total population could easily approximate 300,000 to 500,000 people. In fact, Pattaya Beach is not only one of the country's most important centres of tourism but a big bustling boomtown and melting pot of cultures and has become Asia's premier beach resort since its "discovery" in the early 1960s!
So what was the engine of that rapid development to Funtown as we know it today?
The legend which is handed down in various versions goes as follows...

Pattaya History

Pattaya's name originally derives from "Phraya Tak" who later became known as King Taksin The Great. In the late 18th century King Taksin's army fought a memorable battle in the area of what is known as Pattaya today. The place where he and his followers defeated an opponent army soon became known as Thap Phraya which was later converted to Ph(r)attaya and has then been simplified to Pattaya which literally means "wind blowing from the southwest to the northeast at the beginning of the rainy season".
For the next two centuries after leaving its first footprint on the map of history Pattaya remained a sleepy fishing village embedded in a wide bay with sandy beaches and (at that time) crystal-clear waters. Then it was once again a war that forced Pattaya to make its next move - this time the Vietnam war.

No records are being held but legend has it that on the 29th of April 1961 (according to other resources it was a day in June 1959?) the first group of American military servicemen who were stationed at U-Tapao military airport and were out for "rest & recreation" rushed into the unknown fishing village and literally evoked an avalanche!
The area that Pattaya covered in the early 1960s was not larger than what is known as South Pattaya today but obviously the American GIs had enjoyed their stay so much that the word soon spread and more and more soldiers searched "rest & recreation" in the wide idyllic Pattaya bay. The effects of this "invasion" could have been predicted quite easily. Not only did shops, hotels and restaurants open to offer their services and meet the demand of the unexpected visitors but also the first Pattaya-typical "beer bars" which offer a little more than just beer and liquors. Soon girls mainly from the poor Northeastern part of Thailand which is known as Isaan rolled into Pattaya to meet another unsatisfied and rather sexual demand of the American pioneers in the Wild East!
Pattaya-Funtown was born!

During the 1970s and 80s Pattaya did not only attract an ever-increasing number of international visitors, but more and more Thai entrepreneurs mainly from the Northeast who started up tourism-oriented businesses to cater for all the needs of the wealthy "Farangs" (Thai slang for "foreigners") and those of an ever-growing resident population. The predominant and most typical group amongst those "entrepreneurs" were probably the 100,000s of bar and gogo girls from Isaan who all shared the same dream of leaving poverty on the rice farms behind in exchange for a "better" life in boomtown Pattaya where they would sell their sexual services in the local bars and GoGo clubs. Apart from hefty environmental and social side-effects (traffic problems, pollution, drug abuse and drug-related crime, to name but a few) which went hand in hand with the unstoppable growth of the old fishing village, Pattaya unfortunately suffered from a huge image loss before it was even given the chance of building a more respectable reputation.
Due to negative reports in the international media ("Sex sells!") Pattaya city became known worldwide as the "Sex Capital of Asia" which mainly catered to international sex tourists, criminals and perverts. This one-sided focus on Pattaya's sex image which had initially launched Pattaya's boom and laid the foundation for its ongoing growth as beach resort of world standard, however, overshadowed all the other diverse facets of Pattaya. Pattaya as we know it today is not only about sex and can't be reduced to its bustling nightlife and "sex industry" even though "adult entertainment" still plays a major role in ensuring cashflow to the region (and to the home provinces of Pattaya's working girls).
However, Pattaya is so much more than that!

Pattaya Activities & Attractions

To cut an endless story short - there is probably nothing that you will not find in Pattaya. No matter whether you travel on your own, come here as a couple or a family and no matter what you are looking for - Pattaya has simply got it all!
To be honest with all future visitors who have been misguided by euphemistic brochures - both Pattaya and Jomtien Beach are definitely not amongst the best beaches in Thailand and can't compare to those of Phuket, Koh Samui or the nearby tropical islands of Koh Samet or Koh Chang. Even though the water quality has improved in recent years, it is anything but "crystal-clear". Another downside are the hundreds of noisy water scooters, motorboats and beach vendors who offer all sorts of useless stuff on the formerly picturesque beach of the early 1960s. Both Pattaya's main beach and Jomtien Beach in no way resemble what you might expect of an exotic quiet stretch of sand in a dreamlike tropical environment. Even though it is a perfect place for sunbathing it is primarily all about water activities!

Whether you fancy Scuba Diving trips, Windsurfing, Jet- and Water Skiing, Parasailing, Snorkelling, Water Scooter or "Banana Boat" riding, deep sea fishing or a memorable daytrip to Coral Island just a few kilometres offshore Pattaya where you can find idyllic white sand beaches and real crystal-clear water - you only have to choose!
Golf enthusiastics will love Pattaya! Some of Thailand's finest golf courses can be found in the vicinity of Pattaya city with additional driving ranges right within city limits. Due to inexpensive green fees Golf has become extremely popular with Thais, expats and tourists alike. For a full listing of golf courses along the Eastern seaboard and useful links please visit our
Golf In Pattaya page.
Other land activities besides, of course, shopping on the local markets or in one of Pattaya's shopping malls include: Tennis, Squash, Bowling, Minigolf, Jogging along the beachfront, Elephant Trekking, Bungee Jumping, Go Kart or Motorcycle Racing, daytrips to local tourist attractions and theme parks such as Elephant Village, Crocodile Farm, Nong Nooch Botanical Garden,
Sri Racha Tiger Zoo and Mini Siam, an adventurous day at Pattaya Water
Park or sightseeing in nearby Bangkok with its amazing temples and palaces.
Several professionally equipped gyms, fitness centres and even Muay Thai Boxing Schools offer their services for those interested in fitness or martial arts. Even a Pattaya Marathon is held on a yearly basis. Pool and Snooker can be played in Pool lounges, Snooker Halls or just in one of the bars all over town. And of course, Pattaya with its variety of cuisines from different countries and continents and its abundance of restaurants of all standards from soup kitchens to Fine Dining gourmet temples is a fantastic place for dining out!
Restaurants In Pattaya
Tourist Attractions In Pattaya
Activities & Sports In Pattaya
Shopping In Pattaya

With such a variety of leisure activities on offer it should be no surprise that since the 1990s not only the medial approach to Pattaya has become more balanced (and fair) but also the variety of tourists who visit Funtown. Pattaya has continuously managed to attract an ever-increasing number of recreation seekers from all walks of life and continents and has become a true melting pot of various cultures and lifestyles which is most apparently reflected in the variety of national cuisines available all over town. From year to year there are more and more families and both young and elder couples to be seen among the traditional single male travellers. Due to the low cost of living, the tropical warm climate and the booming Pattaya property & real estate market which has attracted more and more foreign investment in recent years, Pattaya, too, has become a favourite "home away from home" for many elder and retired people who are still young at heart.
Pattaya Property & Real Estate
Pattaya Real Estate Agents

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