Two-phase plan laid for tour bus parking

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Pattaya officials have developed a two-step plan to stop tour buses from clogging up traffic near the beach.

At the May 14 meeting of the Pattaya Business & Tourism Association at the Grand Sole Hotel, group President Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn said PBTA will talk with and ask for cooperation from tour operators to not have their coaches park and even double-park on Beach and Second Roads.

Instead, he suggested, buses could park at the vacant lot near Second Road and Soi 6. However, the property is privately owned, so there might be a fee to park. More investigation was needed.

PBTA President Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn (left) and Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh (right) discuss ways to solve the problem of tour busses causing traffic jams near the beach.PBTA President Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn (left) and Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh (right) discuss ways to solve the problem of tour busses causing traffic jams near the beach.

Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh told the association that the long-term solution would be a parking lot related to the opening of new marina at Bali Hai Pier later this year.

Ronakit said he recently had a meeting with the Minister of Transportation regarding a ferry-service project linking Pattaya and Hua Hin. It would strengthen both logistics and transportation.

Besides the ferry harbor, a parking terminal, utilities, and other facilities will be developed, Ronakit said.

The project is still under consideration at the ministry, he noted.