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.
Thai tennis players, city officials and tournament organizers spell out Pattaya in the sand.
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.
