Pattaya’s baht buses were ordered to starting working only set routes and charge all passengers 10 baht each.
Col. Somsak Thangdamrongtham, deputy chief of staff for the 14th Military Circle, announced Dec. 16 that four routes have been set and the fare on any of them will be 10 baht. The order went into effect on Dec. 24.
The routes are Bali Hai Pier to Banglamung, the Charoenrath Community in Naklua to Jomtien Beach, the Pattaya Second Road-Beach Road loop, and North Pattaya to Jomtien.
The requirement that fares on all these routes be set at 10 baht represents a reduction of half or more. A typical trip from North Pattaya to Jomtien Beach previously cost at least 20 baht.
Tawat Puakboonak, chairman of the Pattaya Baht Bus Cooperative, said the formalized route system won’t have a major impact other than on the Beach-Second roads loop.
He also said banning private, chartered trips to off-route hotels and other locations will also impact business and needs further study.
