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The old stuff has gone

Has anybody noticed condition of Bali Hai Pier?

Cure for declining tourism - grin and bare it

Pattaya real estate - what now?

Entertainment closing times - double standards

The old stuff has gone

Editor;
Being married to a Thai, we used to visit Thailand two times a year for a month each time. We have recently knocked this down in favour of Thailand once a year and a holiday in Spain for our second holiday. I have to say that Spain has become far more enjoyable. We both love Thailand, and it’s up to the Thai government to choose how to run their country, but all of the old stuff, my wife and I spending most our time in Bangkok has gone. The late drinks at the Malaysia coffee shop, the Thermae, Grace Hotel etc. Things have changed; they have even imposed restrictions on buying alcohol at the supermarkets in the daytime. We can get better than this and closer to home. What with the credit crunch etc, I think we will be spending a lot more time in Europe.
Mickyfin Burnley

Has anybody noticed condition of Bali Hai Pier?

Editor,
Bali Hai Pier, has anybody noticed the run down state of this landmark and tourist attraction in its own right? 2 years ago I remember saying to myself what a beautiful addition to this great little city by the sea. The pier is falling apart! Jagged rusting steel, crumbling concrete, missing and broken pieces of the road surface. Every pier in the world needs regular routine maintenance, or the corrosive power of the sea will just reclaim it again. Yes it costs some money, but as they say pay a little now or pay a lot later. This landmark is worth some maintenance.
Peter

Cure for declining tourism - grin and bare it

Dear Editor,
Yes, Pattaya is dirty, traffic gets worse every day, it is virtually impossible to cross Second Road by foot and crime is everywhere. Even with these problems which are impossible to fix, Pattaya tourism can be saved and in fact dramatically increased! I propose that Pattaya be designated a clothing optional city. It is ridiculous for people to be burdened by outer and underwear in such a hot climate. Of course the police will still need their gun belts and motorcycle helmets will need to be used on bikes, but everything else can be eliminated. Pattaya will always have major problems, but who will think about them when it becomes a nude paradise?
Regards,
Bill Turner
California

Pattaya real estate - what now?

Editor;
Plunging tourist bookings, confused nightlife rulings, continuing selfish political turmoil all bode badly for our wonderful city in the forthcoming high season that so many hard pressed local businessmen have been fighting just to reach.
If the above is not bad enough the property market in Pattaya continues to depress. I mentioned in a letter to Mailbag about a year ago that under the current restrictions on foreigners possessing property in Thailand and with a “world credit crunch coming down the line like an express train”, this appeared to be a rather potent mix for serious problems. I know that any negative comments directed at the formerly lucrative property market is sensitive to many in the business, but the best way to solve problems is to meet them head on and do something positive.
There are bright spots such as the inventive Suan Sawarn that sees creative property sold at budget prices. It would appear that the under 1.5 million baht market if done well sells as the buyer is prepared to risk that sort of money on a 30 year lease or the tricky and vaguely defined company route. Most of these cheap developments are not attractive and it is always necessary to have a good mix of property with everything in the right area.
It would appear that properties over about 4 million baht unless in foreign ownership are not selling at all well and as regards houses not at all. This means that 51% of the condo market and ALL the housing market is stagnant in town. There is just so much of this stock that can be rented and funded by the developer. Now we have the situation of political turmoil and huge drops in tourist numbers so that area also comes under stress.
I see development sales talked up, masses of glossy brochures and newspaper pullouts advertising palatial residences in condos with a zillion floors etc. but the realities are more down to earth.
Recently a large condo project on the beach near Ambassador City failed and many others have not even started including some much vaunted mega projects, one of which seems to have taken on the guise of a cement works. Other projects on Jomtien appear to have suddenly shut up shop or simply made a very elaborate show flat facility at the front whilst carefully shielding the vast empty area where the actual condo would be at the back.
Obviously banks are going to be extremely picky from now on as to who they commit to and many of these projects will inevitably fall by the wayside. I am not trying to be a profit of doom as I want my lovely city and it’s developments to succeed. However, I do not wish to see unwitting foreign purchasers getting ripped off by paying large deposits for their “dream home in Paradise”, while some smart assed developer drives off in his Ferrari into the sunset.
Obviously what is needed is a control on condo projects from the offset and nothing should be licensed without adequate funding in place. Next should be a huge effort of lobbying by all in the business to change the law on ownership. The lease time should be at least 70 years with a provision to renew. Foreigners, and after all in Pattaya that is the main customer base, should be allowed to easily construct a company position that reflects their investment fairly.
I have asked many people their opinion why the laws are almost xenophobic regarding foreign ownership and the answer is that foreigners will end up “buying Thailand”. Obviously common sense tells one this notion has no basis but a simple solution would be to allow foreigners to own a patch big enough for a house and after all it would undoubtedly get left to the Thai family in any event. In Vietnam the position is tenable for foreigners as it is in Malaysia and more recently Cambodia. The writing is on the wall; we again will lose out to our neighbours.
Action is required now on this matter if we can ever get a government that has time to consider the task at hand and do something and take the appropriate action to reverse this depressing reality.
Richard Franklin

Entertainment closing times - double standards

Sir,
With tourism to Pattaya severely down, partly attributable to erratic and usually early enforced closing times of (farang frequented) bars, discos, etc, I wonder why it is that Thai entertainment places are allowed to operate until dawn or when the last customer leaves.
I was recently in an Isaan town, and leaving a karaoke at 3am it was obvious that most of the locals were just arriving to visit the local disco. Yet Pattaya tourists who provide untold income for Thailand are expected to be tucked up in their beds long before this.
Isaan Nick

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