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Mayor invites retirees, investors to explore resort’s “second home” options
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome has called on retirees,
investors, and long-stay visitors to make Pattaya, Thailand’s popular beach
resort city, their “second home” during this winter season, and beyond.
In a statement issued this week, Thailand’s youngest mayor noted that the
city of one million “happy inhabitants” had undergone a major revamp and was
now more than ready to provide the best of recreational, healthcare and
infrastructure facilities. He called on them to visit the city and check out
the wide offering of longer term residential opportunities.
Ageing populations in the industrialized countries, poor economic
conditions, and harsh winters are leading many of the senior citizens to
explore new places of residence in the warm-weather countries of Asia.
In recent years, Pattaya has witnessed extensive development in
accommodation options for visitors considering a long stay, ranging from
five-star international hotels and serviced apartments to guest houses,
houseboats, family inns and hotels, beachside huts and bungalows. Short-
term and long-term service apartments are a popular option, especially with
families who appreciate their affordability, quality of service, in-room
dining, safety, and amenities.
The following is the full text of Mayor Itthiphol’s
statement:
Pattaya is widely regarded as one of Asia’s favorite seaside
resorts; with something for everyone; it is increasingly known as the “Thai
Riviera”. Pattaya caters to tourists from all cultures and walks of life,
providing a safe, relaxing, fun filled stay amongst the white sandy beaches,
world-class hotels, wide variety of local and international restaurants, as
well as shopping centers and markets, featuring local OTOP handicrafts to
global luxury labels. In addition, with its 30+ international standard golf
courses, there are challenges for golfers, no matter their handicap.
Global recognition of Pattaya’s superior quality of life, offering a wise
and secure investment for a second home, has been confirmed by the UK’s
highly reputable newspaper, ‘The Telegraph’ where real estate and tourism
experts, including senior journalist Christopher Middleton, ranked Pattaya
as one of the world’s best 20 cities for foreigners to establish their
second home.
Pattaya is also home to some of the world’s finest JCI accredited healthcare
establishments, making it not only a superb choice for enjoying your golden
years to the fullest, but also guaranteeing a solid choice for one of your
most important investment decisions. Already a leading choice for health
conscious holiday goers as their preferred health and wellness destination,
you’ll find it a worthwhile investment of your time to explore Pattaya’s
more long term holiday options.
Without a doubt, you are sure to be impressed by the multitude of modern
hospitable services, facilities and amenities offered by this ocean front
city. It’s a true certainty that Pattaya will win your heart, knowing that
your second home/retirement paradise can fulfill your dreams of life in a
‘heaven on earth’ paradise.
Pattaya’s constantly improving services and modern comforts make use of the
latest technology, comfort and security innovations, assuring that your ‘new
home’ not only rivals your present quality of life, but, in many cases,
actually elevates your lifestyle to new levels of luxury and well-being.
All of these combined attributes and advances in infrastructure development
are motivated with the intent of offering Pattaya residents one of the best
lifestyle choices available on the planet. It’s this fact that has
officially earned Pattaya a seal of quality attesting to its world class
healthcare, as well as a solid choice for the establishment of a second
home.
If by chance you haven’t yet had the opportunity to visit our modern
enjoyable city, may we please suggest that you consider honoring us with a
visit. Not only will you be assured of a wonderful vacation, but the wide
offer of longer term residential opportunities, seen first hand, are sure to
raise the bar on your future dreams as our famous ‘Thai Smile’ kindles
newfound warmth into your heart, as well as an even larger feeling of
well-being in your investment portfolio. (TAT news release)
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Naklua night market offers food, music weekends starting Dec. 2
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome announces details of
the Naklua Walk and Eat night market at City Hall.
Warunya Thongrod
Naklua’s Old Market neighborhood will host eight weekends of music,
food and shopping during a “Walk & Eat” night market Dec. 2 to Jan. 20.
Tourism Authority of Thailand Pattaya office Director Athapol Vannakit
announced the event Nov. 20. Co-sponsored by the Culture Ministry, the
“Naklua Walk & Eat” market will offer booths selling locally made goods,
fresh seafood and performances from bands and Pattaya students.
The market is one of many attempts by local and national government agencies
to drive tourism in the bedroom community. TAT will launch a Facebook page
for the event, allowing organizers and attendees to post pictures and
stories.
Among the scheduled performers are the Jo Louis Puppet Theatre, Lamtad,
Ee-swe Son, Mae Khwanjit Sripajan, and Ponglan. Also planned are a
large-screen outdoor theater, food contest and country-music singing
contest.
The night market will run 4-10 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.
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Chantaburi attracting coastal tourism
Bang Chan, in Chantaburi’s Lung District, is a
fishing village built on the water.
Thanachot Anuwan
There are no roads in Bang Chan. For families in this “no land
village” off the coast of Chantaburi, going to work or just to visit a
neighbor requires a boat.
Much like the more-famous “floating villages” of Myanmar’s Inle Lake, Bang
Chan, in Chantaburi’s Lung District, is a fishing village built on the
water. Houses rest on stilts, even the children paddle around and success is
judged by the size of the day’s catch.
Life has remained unchanged here for decades, except for the slowly
increasing numbers of tourists. They come from the cities, and a few from
the west, to see the way things used to be in Thailand, before neon and
shopping malls. They’re not disappointed.
The 450 or so families living here seem largely unfazed by tourists. “We
aren’t changing our normal way of life just for tourism,” said Varee Jan,
owner of the Bang Chan Happy Homestay guesthouse. “We’ll follow our normal
routines and tourists will adapt themselves to it.”
Accessible via ferry at Chantaburi’s Ang-Krapong Pier, the village is
accessed via the Waeru estuary. In reality a group of six communities, the
so-called “no land village” uses nets to divide fishing grounds, with
families pulling up catches into floating baskets each day.
The Waeru estuary, where fresh water meets the
sea.
Homes, built along mangrove and intertidal forests, are surrounded by water.
Unlike in Myanmar’s floating villages, motors, not paddles, are used to
traverse canals. The only land is a strip of footpath in front of homes
constructed by the local government.
Tourism revenue is almost an anomaly in this community, which embodies HM
the King’s “sufficiency economy” philosophy. Families provide for themselves
and readily lend a hand to neighbors, a practice local fisherman Somporn
Benjaphrom calls “jek lai.”
“Villagers here live like siblings,” Somporn said. “Whenever there is work
or activities, the community will help one another. For example, whenever a
house is repairing boats or laying fish nets, we all help one another. This
is how we have lived for a long time.”
For tourists, beyond observing daily life, there is the Sao Jao Pho Kaknam
Waeru temple to visit. Many these days, however, come for the “eco-tourism,”
watching, for example, the native red-backed sea eagle swoop down on its
catch.
Varee, whose Happy Homestay can accommodate 30 guests, offers a bounty of
seafood for meals and tours by the community’s “man of many smiles” Manop
Nilchavee.
Manop said tours run through the mangrove forests, through the eagle hunting
grounds of Moo 4’s Ban Thepkhayang and to the black sand beaches of Waek
Bay.
Many wonder if the simple life of Bang Chan can survive the influx of
tourists. But, for now, things remained unchanged, offering visitors a
window into an unknown chapter of Thai history.
The only land is a strip of footpath in front of
homes constructed by the local government.
At the Bang Chan Happy Homestay guesthouse,
tourists can experience the way things used to be in Thailand, before neon
and shopping malls.
A fisherman lays out his net, which will spread
out over 2 km.
A fisherman feeds the red hawks, which can be
found in abundance here.
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