Pattaya, Thailand – An escalating conflict between established market vendors and roving street sellers at Wat Chaimongkol Market in South Pattaya has raised concerns among local residents, prompting municipal authorities to take decisive action on August 28.
The core of the dispute revolves around the allocation of vending spaces, as both groups compete for prime selling locations. Nighttime verbal confrontations have further strained relations. In response, residents have called upon Pattaya officials to monitor the situation during evening hours to address the issue before it escalates.
This conflict stems from established shop owners temporarily leasing space to mobile vendors, allowing each vendor to utilize 2-4 ceramic tiles on the footpath in front of their shops. This arrangement permitted by city hall encountered resistance from regular vendors who refused to accept this agreement. City officials also faced verbal hostility during their attempts to keep order in the area.
Deputy Mayor Wuthisak Rermkijakarn acknowledged the friction between established market vendors and roving street sellers and has ordered the city administration to deploy officials and specialized teams to patrol the market area to effectively tackle the problem and prevent any serious altercations.
