Thai tennis players, city officials and tournament
organizers spell out Pattaya in the sand.
Phasakorn Channgam
Thai tennis players participating in the PTT Pattaya Open
served up a symbolic effort at restoring Pattaya Beach by helping organizers of
the Women’s Tennis Association tournament and city officials pour a bit of sand
onto the eroded beachfront.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, Chonburi Councilman Pornthep
Nopharujkul, Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh and executives from the sponsors
Dusit Thani Hotel and PTT Co. Ltd. joined local tennis players in filling in the
word “Pattaya” that had been carved out of the remaining sand at the badly
eroded Dusit Curve beach.
Itthiphol said a plan to rebuild the entirety of Pattaya
Beach with sand from a Rayong estuary should begin by October. However, while
the 580 million baht has been approved by the government, the plan is being held
up at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
