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Pattaya
General Information
 Introduction
to Pattaya
147km (91 miles) E of Bangkok
 The
current incarnation of Pattaya claims its founders day as June 29,
1959, when a few truckloads of American troops stationed in nearby
Isan arrived, rented houses along the beach, and had such a hoot that
they told their friends. Word spread and, over time, the town became
the R&R capital for war-weary American troops for the next many
years. The legacy of those early visitors is today's adult playground:
with hundreds of go-go clubs, beer bars, and massage parlors at beachside.
Tourism boomed in the 1980s, and unchecked resort development was
not accompanied by infrastructure upgrades such that beaches
became veritable toilets of raw sewage. Recent years have seen a few
civil projects to clean up the bay with some success, but the beach
is not at all pleasant.
Despite this, Pattaya now supports a collection of large, sophisticated
international resorts, retreats set in sprawling, manicured seaside
gardens. Pattaya would like to be a family destination, and, along
with fine accommodations, there are some family activities, but Pattaya's
mammoth sex tourism industry kind of puts the kibosh on any wholesome
family fun (parents may not be able to field all of the questions
the town raises in the little ones).
Neighboring Jomtien is a popular alternative to Pattaya. Less seedy
activities and cleaner beaches (though just a long, thin stretch of
coarse sand), Jomtien's best accommodations
are private condominiums, but it's good for day visits.
History of Pattaya
 Until
the late 1950’s Pattaya was a small fishing village like many
others in the Gulf of Bangkok. Called Pad Tha Ya, which means the
‘wind blows from the southwest to the north-east at the beginning
of the rainy season’, the name eventually became Pattaya.
Before 1956 Pad Tha Ya was just a sub-district
of Chonburi and did not even have the status of a municipality. This
covered only the Naklua area, which was extended to South Pattaya
in 1964. In about 1959 Pattaya started to expand into a resort for
visiting American GIs from a base in Nakhon Ratchasima with plenty
of money to spend. US navy men from nearby Sattahip, particularly
during the Vietnam war, enabled great expansion of facilities available
to visiting forces by local entrepreneurs, and Pattaya became an official
centre of ‘Rest and Relaxation’ for American troops. They
were flown into U-Tapao airport, which was built for American use
at the time, and hotel accommodation,
shops, bars and services in Pattaya grew rapidly due to the increasing
demand.
Many Thais, particularly from Bangkok, were also regular visitors for the weekend, many renting or buying small bungalows and beach huts in the area. From that point on, Pattaya grew very quickly as a holiday destination for both Thais and foreigners, and in 1978 the national government granted it city status to reflect this. ‘Pattaya City’ came into being on 29th November 1978, and this anniversary is celebrated every year.
The 1980s and 90s were also a boom time for Pattaya with a large influx of tourists from European countries, particularly in their winter. Later, as well heeled visitors moved south to the Andaman coast and Samui, a new generation of Russian, Eastern European and Arab nationals began arriving. The city’s administration has grown to cater for the increasing size and demands of Thailand’s biggest resort town, which now receives several million visitors every year, both Thai and foreign.
The city’s infrastructure has also grown to keep pace with increasing development, with construction of many condos in both Naklua and Jomtien, as well as “in-filling” of any available open space in Central and South Pattaya, making resources such as water scarce in the dry season. This has necessitated large public and private long term investment in major projects. The new Bangkok airport at Suvarnabhumi, which opens in the summer of 2006, will mean that Pattaya is only about an hour away on the new road which is under construction. This has brought another spate of development to Pattaya to meet what are seen to be the increasing needs of visitors.
Due to its proximity to Bangkok, and partly as a legacy of the GI R&R activities during the Vietnam war, Pattaya developed a reputation as a party city, a badge it still honourably holds today. With this came an influx of girls from the poor Isaan region of Northeastern Thailand who supplied the ever-growing sex trade, which is very much part of the city. However, Pattaya also has its serious side and provides for a growing community of foreigners employed in the burgeoning eastern seaboard industries of the area. An estimated 12,000 people from all parts of the world live permanently in Pattaya, supporting a large establishment of restaurants, bars, clubs, societies and services set up specifically to support them. This number is said to swell considerably with the part-time residents who spent part of their year here. This is evident in the extraordinary boom in construction and property prices that the city has recently witnessed. More on Pattaya for ex-pats.
Pattaya is a modern city and you won’t find any old buildings,
simply because there aren’t any, although the Buddhist Temples
(wats) have all the character and splendour of older buildings. This
resort city has grown apace with the influx of visitors, and will
no doubt continue to do so.
Pattaya
- A Traveler's Paradise
 Pattaya
is nestled along a picturesque bay on the East Coast of the Gulf of
Thailand, roughly 170 kilometers southeast of Bangkok. From a fishing
village in the 1960's, Pattaya has emerged as the favorite Southeast
Asian vacation center. A fascinating escape where tourists, holiday
makers and vacationers from around the world unfold an incomparable
array of possibilities to unwind during an exotic holiday beach vacation.
Unlike other beach resorts, where natural surroundings are used as
magnets to attract tourists, Pattaya makes an all-out attempt to provide
the best of everything. Here, “everything” means everything
a tourist can imagine while on holiday: recreation, entertainment,
sports, sightseeing and fun. To put it simply, Pattaya is a paradise
for everyone, as it has a variety of attractions suitable for all
types of visitors. This is the place where you can fill your day,
from dusk to dawn, with endless activities, or you may choose to do
nothing at all and relax.
Today, Pattaya is one of Thailand’s premier beach
resorts and annually attracts thousands of pleasure-seeking tourists
from all over the world. Despite the wide range of excellent facilities
for tourists with legitimate interests, Pattaya in particular has,
like Thailand in general, an image problem, caused by the so-called
sex industry.
Reports in the international media have long overemphasized the sex-related
negative sides of the city and these reports, fueled by the local
media haven’t helped the situation. Prostitution is practiced
and perverts coming to Pattaya has made sensational international
coverage, enticing people to come with the sole purpose of bedding
pre-teenagers of either sex.
True, there has been a problem, but things are improving here as well
as other known ‘sex trade’ areas in Thailand. It is regularly
raided by both the Thai and international police. The future for Pattaya
is looking bright being encouraged and although the industry still
exists, and already there are major changes to the area. Wholesome,
family entertainment is on.
Not that Pattaya lacks in attractions. It has good beaches, though
the actual Pattaya beach is not the cleanest anymore, others are pristine
and the water crystal clear. Beach related activities are extensive
and you are sure to find something to suit you.
Pattaya is located within easy reach from the
Bangkok as well as Don Muang International Airport. It has an excellent
accommodation infrastructure, which are of international standard
and restaurants and entertainment for all tastes. Because of its good
accessibility from Bangkok, Pattaya remains one of Thailand’s
most important and popular dive centers.
Education
If you have recently arrived in the Eastern Seaboard with a young family, a major concern will be the options for schooling. With the expansion of industrial areas in the region there has been a growth in the number of international schools catering to the expatriate community. In this chapter we cover children's education from preschool through to high school and an option for tertiary education. The information has been provided by the schools and was current at the time of publication. Before choosing a school for your children, we highly recommend a visit to the schools prior to selection one.
The international schools within the Eastern Seaboard are bases on the American National Curriculum or the British National Curriculum. All schools welcome students of any nationality including non-English speakers. If this applies to your children it is important to check the schools policy for the "English as a second language (ESL)" program. Many of the schools also offer opportunities to study the child's native language; French, Dutch, Japanese, etc. This diversity of nationalities presents opportunities for learning about other cultures and allows children to cultivate cross cultural awareness and tolerance. Each of the schools tries to reflect the international makeup of the school community within its curriculum. It is also a government requirement to include Thai studies in the curriculum and all schools accept local students.
 Nursery
Motessori Children's Centre International
From the Dusit Hotel roundabout, head north along Pattaya-Naklua Road. Turn west on Soi 8 and follow almost to the end. Turn right into Soi Wong Amat. The school is on the left just past the Garden Beach Resort.
Address: 282 M00 5, Soi 18 Banglamung, Chonburi 20151
Tel/Fax: 428-435
The Montessori Children's Center's first preschool classroom was founded in
1990.The school is dedicated to the teachings of Dr. Maria Montessori, which cultivate the child's natural desire to learn by providing a structured, stimulating environment set in a Thaistyle building. The school is a member of the International Montessori Society and is licensed and accredited by the Chonburi Welfare Department of Education.
Grades: Preschool to elementary (Upper Primary)
Age Range: 3-9 years
Enrolment: 54 students
Siam International Children's Centre
From the Dolphin roundabout, head north along Pattaya - Naklua Road. Turn west on Soi 18 and follow almost to the end. Turn right into Soi Wong Amat. The school is on the left, just before the Garden Beach Resort.
Address: 305 Moo 5, Soi 18 Pattaya, Chonburi 20260
Tel/Fax: 370-798-9
The Director of the school felt there was need in this area for an international school for preschool and primary aged children. The school is located on six rai of land on Wong Amat beach and has been open with full time teaching staff since the summer of 1999. The teaching staff consists of native English speaking teachers and qualified Thai teachers. The center also offers early bird and extended day programs as well as drop in day care center. Grades: Preschool to Lower Elementary .
Age range: 2-9 years
International School
International School Eastern Seaboard (I.S.E.)
ISE opened its facility in 1994. With the completion of the High School building, completion of the High School building, it now offers a full campus for students from preschool through graduation. The curriculum in North American, with components from the United States, Canada and the European Council of International Schools. The teachers are primarily American in a diverse staff. ISE is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Address: 282 Moo 5, Tambon Bovin, Sri Racha, Chonburi
P.O. Box 6 Banglamung, Chonburi 20150
Tel: 345-556-9, 372-591/5
Fax: 345-156, 372-590
Grade: Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12
Age Range: 3-18 years
Enrolment: 340 students
International School of Pattaya (ISP)
From Pattaya, head north on Sukhumvit Road, about 1km past the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. The School is on the east side of the road.
Address: 382 Moo 6 Sukhumvit Road, Naklua Km 142 Pattaya City, Chonburi 20150
Tel: 726-457-8
Fax: 726-459
ISP was the first international school in Pattaya, opening in 1993. It follows the British National Curriculum.
Grade: Nursery to Year 13
Age Range: 1 year-16 years
Enrolment: 75 Students
University
Asian University of Science and Technology (ASIAN UST)
Traveling east from Chonburi on Route 36, turn south onto Route 331. About 8km on the right hand side.
Address: 89 Route 331, Km 20, Huay Yai, Chonburi 20260
P.O. Box 15, Ban Amphur, Chonburi 20250
Tel: 754-450
Fax: 754-460
Asian UST was created by a group of Imperial College alumni in Thailand with the assistance of
Imperial College. The university admitted its first group of students in 1998. With an international
teaching staff and a large, modern campus, Asian UST offers English language 4-year degree programs in engineering and business. Full and part-time MBA programs are also offered. The Interfaculty Department of Continuing Studies provides content courses in Humanities and Social Sciences Languages to the faculties of Engineering and Business.
Enrolment: 155
Entrance Requirements: For a Bachelor degree you must have M6 or equivalent secondary school certificate or GCSE, IGCSE, Grade 12, "O" level, study of mathematics and physics for engineering students and mathematics for business students. A written entrance exam and interview are also required. For an MBA you must have a bachelor degree from an accredited institution, entrance exam and interview. Entrance examinations are held in January and May. Scholarships are offered.
Partner Sites
www.pattayahoteltour.com
| www.pattaya-hotels.info
| www.hotel-pattaya.com
| www.1pattaya.com
Provided
by Tourism Authority of Thailand
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