It wasn’t exactly the Berlin Wall, but a sheet-metal fence erected for a day on Pattaya’s oceanfront border with Na Jomtien Subdistrict sparked both curiosity and concern.
Visiting the area at Jomtien Soi 19 June 28, Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet said the temporary fence, which was taken down, Tuesday, was to assist Na Jomtien administrators in their efforts to evict illegal vendors from Na Jomtien Beach.
The eviction of the dozens of vendors who had occupied the beachfront, rent-free, for the past two years might have prompted vendors to move into Pattaya Beach instead, Poramet said. The city wanted to make it clear that wasn’t allowed.
Na Jomtien officials took the hard line on vendors who took over the sand and sidewalk after informing them that the Covid-19 pandemic leniency had come to an end. They legally could not be allowed to encroach on public property any longer.
Pattaya always has banned freelance vendors from setting up food, beverage and trinket stalls on the beach. Parcels for beach-chair vendors and massage permits are highly controlled.
The fence put up on the Na Jomtien border was simply to reinforce that, Poramet said.
Tourists seemed befuddled at the Pattaya Wall while others worried it would hurt tourism.
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