The Pattaya City Council urged Mayor Poramet Ngampichet to expand legal zones for nightlife businesses to finally give the same protection to East Pattaya and Jomtien Beach that Walking Street enjoys.
City Councilman Damrongkiat Pinitkan, the former secretary for the Entertainment and Tourism Association of Pattaya, proposed at the council’s Sept. 23 meeting that legal operating zones be revised for the first time in 20 years.
The current zone covers the east side of Third Road, Walking Street and Bali Hai Pier. Since 2002, many businesses have popped up outside the entertainment zone, including the “dark side” and Jomtien.
Those businesses legally are supposed to close at midnight, although many stay open longer through “connections” with local authorities.
Expanding the legal entertainment zones would allow those venues to stay open until, currently, 2 a.m. and, if the central government extends legal hours, until 4 a.m., Damrongkiat said.
Poramet said the city cannot extend the entertainment zone on its own, so he suggested that the entertainment association send an official petition to him that would be forwarded to the Interior Ministry for consideration.
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