Pattaya’s Empty Beaches and Silent Bars
Once a hive of neon lights and lively crowds, Pattaya’s coast is now eerily quiet, its go‑go bars almost as empty as the last cup of Thai iced tea without sugar. The city’s usual bustle has cooled down to a whisper thanks to the global travel stand‑still triggered by the coronavirus.
The Curtain Falls on Business
Pawin Phettrakul, the executive behind the famed Alcazar Cabaret, admits that “we’re 100 % shut down.” The theatre that normally welcomes over a thousand enthusiastic tourists daily now sees zero footfall, and the costs of running the dazzling feather‑headdress show are plain stubborn.
- 1,000 dancers per day 0 guests at the moment
- Chancery of the city’s economy that is almost entirely tourist‑driven
- 12 % of Thailand’s GDP linked to tourism, but Pattaya’s local fortunes hit harder
Alcazar is not ready to lay off its dancers just yet, but hope is quite a short‑lived laugh right now.
The Belle of a Posse of Numbers
2018 saw 15 million people walking the streets of this sea‑side paradise, a figure that was already a 20 % dip from 2017. Now you’ll only find two people sharing a crow’s nest of a balcony—if you happen to be a hermit.
Business owner Roy Fu Wanlong says Pattaya has “never had a worse blow,” and over the last few weeks, many shops have folded, bankrupted, or shut their doors, leaving the streets eerily empty.
Shedding a Shameful Past
Pattaya has been working hard to cut ties with its infamous sex‑tourism days from the 1970s—when US soldiers drove by on their weekends. The town is now pushing a front that says: “Families, boats, and real beach vibes only!”
Spirits of the City Still Breathe
While the city’s present feels like a slow‑motion movie, the future remains uncertain. We’re holding on to hope that once people can safely travel again, the lot will no longer be starved for visitors and that the fun will resume.
Stay on the pulse of the pandemic: keep your coffee & beach hat ready—and stay safe!
