Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon (right) expresses his opinion about
the revival of Naklua Old Town (walking street).
Pratchaya Kerdthong
Pattaya’s second attempt at creating a “walking
street” market in Naklua is proving to be just as big of a bust as last
year’s effort.
Two months into revived Naklua Old Town, crowds are
dwindling by the day, turned off by vendors who close early and security
guards who allow youth gangs to settle their fights at the market.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, for whom the Naklua Old
Town was a personal pet project, called an emergency progress meeting
Jan. 11 in hopes of salvaging a plan Naklua residents and the Pattaya
City Council had killed this time last year.
Chatchawan Pinyasiri, president of Naklua
Preservation and Tourism Development Association, told the mayor many
vendors are abandoning the market due to lack of business. Others are
violating their leases by shutting down two hours before the required 10
p.m. closing time.
Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon said it was
obvious during his Jan. 7 visit to the walking street that crowds had
decreased substantially from two months ago. He blamed vendors for not
adhering to the rules, making the market less appealing for visitors.
More worrying, he said, is the lack of security.
Guards hired to patrol the market aren’t doing their jobs, he said. As a
result, there have been numerous fights between area youth gangs, which
have scared off even more shoppers.
Wattana said he will oversee one more push by the
city to add shows and attractions to entice tourists to visit as well as
improve traffic and parking. But if vendors can’t follow the rules, he
warned, the Naklua Old Town would close again, this time for good.
Some
of the many entrepreneurs from Naklua Old Town (walking street) listen
intently to the organizing officials.
